David Beckham's MLS ownership group has "taken so long to produce the plans" for a Miami soccer stadium that hopes of putting the lease on the August ballot "have dried up, and it now appears the measure couldn't be voted on before November," according to Joey Flechas of the MIAMI HERALD. The delay could "nudge the ballot question into tricky political territory as the November ballot -- already jammed with 13 state constitutional amendments -- might also include a loaded menu of city ballot questions involving leases of public land." It is unclear if the city-owned Melreese golf course has "become the front-runner" for an MLS stadium, as Miami Beckham United has "not publicly indicated so." City officials have said that the soccer group "has promised renderings and economic impact figures for a Melreese stadium." There are "longstanding plans to build on nine acres in Overtown that were approved by MLS and have never been ruled out, and Beckham's group has met with Doral officials to discuss interest in privately owned land in the suburban west Miami-Dade city" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 5/16).
