MIAMI – What once seemed like an impossible dream may actually be coming true for David Beckham and his partners with Inter Miami MLS.
Miami voters approved a referendum Tuesday that will allow David Beckham's group to negotiate a lease to build a new stadium on city land where the Melreese golf course currently sits.
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Needless to say, the soccer superstar was ecstatic when the votes came rolling in throughout the night.
"We haven't just proved to Miami today, we've proved to the world that persistence, patience makes things happen," Beckham said at a celebratory event in Coral Gables. "We're going to bring a championship-winning team."
The referendum received 60 percent of the vote to win approval.
Beckham and Miami businessman Jorge Mas have long desired to build a billion-dollar complex just east of Miami International Airport, and now they'll be able to do so without a competitive bidding process.
If negotiations conclude as expected, Miami Freedom Park will include a 25,000 seat stadium for the city's new MLS team, along with a hotel and office space.
The ownership is promising the city about $3.5 million in annual rent.
"Today is a historic day for the sport in our country, and another building block in our vision to become a soccer nation," Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber said.