Broward County (Fla.) Mayor Barbara Sharief has asked all 31 municipalities in the county to "come forward with a list of possible spots" where David Beckham's group could build a new MLS stadium, according to Bryan & Davis of the South Florida SUN-SENTINEL. A few cities, including Hollywood and Hallandale Beach, are already "scrambling to oblige." In addition, the county is "offering up a spot it owns" in Sunrise. But Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said that the expansion franchise is "still looking for sites" further south in Miami. Miami-Dade Dir of Communications Michael Hernandez said, "Nothing has changed. [Gimenez] spoke to them again last week and they told him they were searching for sites in Miami-Dade County. We are going to continue working with them. We want soccer in Miami-Dade County." Broward County Commissioner Stacy Ritter said that she "reached out to Beckham's lobbyist in early July and suggested they consider county-owned land next to the BB&T Center in Sunrise." Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper also said that she "contacted Beckham's lobbying team in early June to invite them to take a look at a privately owned parcel in her city." Cooper: "If South Florida loses a team like this, it would be a sin." Meanwhile, NASL Ft. Lauderdale Strikers Managing Dir Tim Robbie said that his franchise would be "interested in partnering" with Beckham's group to create a Broward-based MLS team. But MLS has "made it clear it prefers basing a team in downtown Miami." MLS officials "have not discussed Broward as an alternative site, yet aren't ruling it out" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 7/22).
