English football star David Beckham's plans to construct a sprawling football complex have been cleared after Miami city commissioners gave Inter Miami CF the green light.
The city voted 4-1 in favour of authorising lease agreements that will allow Beckham and his partners to develop the complex.
The $1 billion project will redevelop the city's Melreese Country Club near Miami International Airport. Called “Miami Freedom Park”, it will include a 25,000-seat stadium, 750 hotel rooms, retail shops and community fields.
At over 23 hectares, it will become the city's largest park.
In an Instagram post, Beckham thanked fans for their “support, patience and passion".
“Your dream is a reality,” he wrote on Thursday night.
“Finally I want to thank Jorge and Jose Mas and the whole Mas family for believing in my dream and making it a reality.”
Jorge and Jose Mas are co-owners of the Major League Soccer club alongside Beckham.
Miami city Mayor Francis Suarez said the project will “put us once again on the world stage”. Mr Suarez also argued Miami deserved to be a host for the 2026 World Cup, which will be played in the US, Mexico and Canada.
“We not only deserve that — we should be the headquarters for Fifa and the World Cup in 2026,” he said.
Managing owner Jorge Mas said the project would be privately financed. The stadium itself will cost $350 million.
Tax payers will contribute “zero dollars” and the city will recoup $2.6bn over 99 years during the agreement, Mr Suarez said in an interview with Fox News.
Inter Miami made its MLS debut in 2020 after being granted an expansion spot two years earlier.
The club currently plays at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. The club will maintain permanent facilities in the southern Florida city and continue to play matches at DRV PNK Stadium while the club constructs Miami Freedom Park, Inter Miami said in statement.
Bloomberg contributed to this report
