Rival wants to beat David Beckham out of Lockhart with Topgolf, soccer and other attractions

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https://prestonbusinessreview.com/rival-wants-to-beat-david-beckham-out-of-lockhart-with-topgolf-soccer-and-other-attractions/146280/

Rival wants to beat David Beckham out of Lockhart with Topgolf, soccer and other attractions

A rival to soccer legend laid out his vision for ’s Lockhart Stadium on Friday, offering a lively remake with shops, restaurants, a Topgolf attraction, sports fields, a jogging pathway and a renovated soccer stadium with a new professional team.

FXE Futbol is hoping to take over the city’s defunct, 64-acre Lockhart Stadium property, resurrecting its rich soccer past. The group is competing against Miami Beckham United to win the city deal.

The empty acreage, north of Commercial Boulevard and west of Interstate 95, attracted thousands of sports fans over the years, to baseball, soccer and football games. For a while, it was slated for a major water park, .

But Lockhart Stadium and the adjacent Fort Lauderdale Stadium baseball field stand empty now. The Lockhart soccer field is overgrown with weeds and pocked by bare patches, looking as if a tumbleweed might come rolling by.

Highlights of FXE’s proposal:

* Lockhart: The stadium that was home to the Miami Fusion and soccer teams in years gone by would be renovated.

* Fort Lauderdale Stadium: The adjacent stadium, which once hosted high school football championships and baseball for the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles, would be torn down.

* New team: FXE Futbol would bring a United Soccer League Championship team, its name to be determined. League spokesman Ryan Madden said “we have no doubt that a USL club will do very well there.” A decision by USL about adding a team will be made after the league sees “which proposal the community prefers.” Miami Beckham United proposes a USL League One team, one rung lower.

* Food, drink: Shops and restaurants would be included. No dimensions for the proposed commercial complex were provided. FXE CEO JP Reynal said that would be up to the city.

* Topgolf: The trendy sports entertainment venue would help anchor the complex, taking up 5 acres. A letter from a Topgolf representative indicates the company is “excited about the potential opportunity.” A company out of Atlanta has agreed to finance $35 million for the high-tech golf attraction, according to a letter in the FXE submission. (Another company says it would finance $50 million toward other improvements in the proposal.)

* Sports fields: Eleven fields are proposed. The city would maintain and run four of them, for youth sports. Seven would be competition-level fields, available to the public and for youth sports.

* Open space: The portion that’s green, including sports fields, is 40 acres.

* New park: A 15-acre park would include the four city-run sports fields, plus a dog park, outdoor fitness equipment, beach volleyball, shaded playground, “learning zone,” and space for food trucks or a farmer’s market.

* Pedestrian trail: A “Lockhart Loop” would allow people to walk or run around the 64-acre site.

Reynal said the project could require a $100 million investment, providing 1,000 jobs and attracting 2 million guests a year.

“The venue and park will completely change the way residents, guests, and visitors experience Uptown and the surrounding area of the City of Fort Lauderdale,” he said in the proposal.

The group Envision Uptown — dedicated to reviving the city’s north end — sent the city aletter of support for the FXE Futbol proposal this week.

Reynal’s company name reflects the property’s immediate neighbor, the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, or FXE.

Friday was the city’s deadline for submissions.

Beckham, in a group with Jorge Mas of MasTech, with an unsolicited proposal to turn the Lockhart property into a training compound for Inter Miami FS, the soon-to-exist Major League Soccer Team that will play in a stadium to be built in Miami-Dade County.

Miami Beckham United proposes tearing down Lockhart to replace it with a soccer stadium oriented north-south, which the group says is a superior alignment because of the sun. The group would start a youth soccer academy, and would build its administrative offices at the site.

There could be a restaurant if the city wanted it, under the Miami Beckham United proposal, which also offers green space, a dog park, a running trail, playground and public park.

The Lockhart site is one of the city’s largest empty parcels — about two-thirds the size of Holiday Park. City leaders pegged it as one of four “signature” parks to be remade if Fort Lauderdale voters in March approve a $200 million parks bond. The city hasn’t decided how the park improvement plans would be altered if the site is redone by Beckham or FXE.

Reynal has tried to win the hearts of local soccer fans by emphasizing that Beckham’s major league team will play in Miami, and touting his proposal as the Fort Lauderdale-centric option.

Mayor Dean Trantalis said commissioners will weigh the proposals soon. He and others on the commission have said public access and recreation for youth will be important factors.

“We have received emails from local folks supporting both proposals,” he said. “I don’t see it as Miami versus Fort Lauderdale at all.”

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https://www.thesportsman.com/articles/david-beckham-s-latest-stadium-plans-for-inter-miami-look-incredible

DAVID BECKHAM'S LATEST STADIUM PLANS FOR INTER MIAMI LOOK INCREDIBLE

Inter Miami's Sexy New Training Ground Looks Amazing

David Beckham's plans for the Club Internacional de Futbol Miami - Inter Miami to you and me - are gaining pace as the club's official Twitter account unleashed a video showing off sexy plans for a brand spanking new training facility in Florida.

The new Lockhart Stadium Community Park will be the future home to Inter Miami's training facilities as they gear up for life in Major League Soccer. The team will become the 25th MLS franchise and are expected to join the league in time for the 2020 season after the Miami Beckham United group were finally allowed to join the league as part of an expansion that will see the MLS involve 24 teams by 2020 and 28 after that.

Beckham, who joined the MLS as a player in 2007 exercised a clause in his contract from his playing days to own an expansion team at a discounted franchise price, and his plans for the Miami-based team appear to be moving quickly.

A location for a new stadium - the Miami Freedom Park - moved a step closer in November when a local referendum voted 60% in favour of converting a locally-owned golf course near to the international airport into a stadium for  their new football (or 'soccer') team.

The stadium is expected to be a 25,000-seater venue and there is just a year to go before Inter Miami join the MLS.

The club's Twitter account showed off a video detailing hugely impressive plans for the new training facility and it is well worth a watch in the video below...

Inter Miami CF

@InterMiamiCF

Miami Beckham United is proud to share its vision for the new Lockhart Stadium Community Park and future home to Inter Miami's professional training facilities.

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https://www.deccanchronicle.com/videos/sports/ibrahimovic-ready-for-mls-season-hopes-beckham-statue-looks-good.html

Ibrahimovic ready for MLS season, hopes Beckham statue looks good

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https://uk.reuters.com/video/2019/03/01/ibrahimovic-ready-for-mls-season-hopes-b?videoId=520431899

Ibrahimovic ready for MLS season, hopes Beckham statue looks good

New Galaxy captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic ready for new MLS season, hopes David Beckham statue looks good

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https://www.fromthegrapevine.com/lifestyle/david-beckham-la-galaxy-statue-ceremony-sculpture-omri-amrany

David Beckham led the Los Angeles Galaxy to the MLS Cup in 2011. (Photo: Photo Works / Shutterstock)

L.A. Galaxy to honor former MLS star David Beckham with statue by Israeli artist

Sculptor Omri Amrany has previously immortalized the likes of Michael Jordan, Vince Lombardi and LeBron James.

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https://www.ibj.com/articles/72716-indy-elevens-race-to-join-major-league-soccer-must-clear-many-hurdles

Indy Eleven’s race to join Major League Soccer must clear many hurdles

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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6762857/David-Beckham-attends-reveal-mural-dedicated-Los-Angeles.html

David Beckham attends renovated football pitch reveal dedicated to him in Los Angeles as LA Galaxy prepare to unveil statue of former midfielder

A renovated soccer pitch honouring David Beckham has been revealed to the Los Angeles public

Beckham was in attendance as the artwork was unveiled at a ceremony on Friday

A statue of Beckham will be unmasked before LA Galaxy's game on Saturday

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https://sg.news.yahoo.com/beckham-unveils-football-field-underserved-204839169.html

Beckham unveils football field in underserved neighborhood

Former England and LA Galaxy player David Beckham unveils a new football pitch bearing his name, in an underserved Los Angeles neighborhood.

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https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2019/03/01/la-galaxy-unveil-david-beckham-community-field-salvation-army-downtown-los-angeles

LA Galaxy unveil David Beckham Community Field at Salvation Army in Downtown Los Angeles

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https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-david-beckham-statue-20190301-story.html

David Beckham statue to be unveiled by Galaxy before MLS season opener

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https://www.inquisitr.com/5322353/david-beckham-honored-los-angeles-victoria-beckham-james-corden-attend/

David Beckham Honored In Los Angeles, Victoria Beckham And James Corden Attend Event

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https://daddyhood.net/david-beckham-attends-reveal-of-mural-dedicated-to-him-in-los-angeles-14744.html

David Beckham attends reveal of mural dedicated to him in Los Angeles

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https://www.beinsports.com/en/mls/video/zlatan-hopes-beckham-likes-his-statue-and-it-/1128148

Zlatan hopes Beckham likes his statue, and it looks like him!

Zlatan Ibrahimovic joked that he hopes David Beckham's new statue in Los Angeles looks like him.

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https://tvcnews.tv/david-beckham-unveils-community-soccer-field-in-los-angeles/

David Beckham unveils community soccer field in Los Angeles

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https://www.sounderatheart.com/2019/3/2/18247310/how-to-watch-mls-week-1-tv-streaming-listings-three-big-storylines

How to watch MLS in Week 1, TV and streaming listings

MLS is back! And so is your Sounder at Heart weekly open gamethread.

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https://www.euronews.com/2019/03/02/david-beckham-inaugurates-football-turf-field-in-underprivileged-la-community

David Beckham inaugurates football turf field in underprivileged LA community

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https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/03/02/david-beckham-statue-la-galaxy-stadium-mls

LA Galaxy Unveil David Beckham Statue Ahead of Season Opener

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/03/03/david-beckhams-statue-unveiled-outside-dignity-health-sports-park

David Beckham's statue unveiled outside Dignity Health Sports Park

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https://abc30.com/sports/david-beckham-statue-unveiled-by-galaxy-ahead-of-mls-season-opener/5164762/

David Beckham statue unveiled by LA Galaxy ahead of MLS season opener

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https://www.dailynews.com/2019/03/02/david-beckham-honored-with-statue-at-dignity-health-sports-park/

David Beckham honored with statue at Dignity Health Sports Park

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https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/video/4039409-david-beckham-honored-with-statue-outside-dignity-health-park/

David Beckham Honored With Statue Outside Dignity Health Park

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https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/David-Beckham-Statue-Unveiling--506611831.html

David Beckham Calls Statue Outside Galaxy Stadium 'Dream Come True'

The LA Galaxy paid tribute to a global soccer icon on Saturday, when they unveiled a statue in honor of David Beckham inside the newly built Legends Plaza outside Dignity Health Sports Park (formerly StubHub Center).

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https://www.france24.com/en/20190303-galaxy-honour-david-beckham-mls-opening-day

Galaxy honour David Beckham on MLS opening day

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http://www.justjared.com/2019/03/03/david-beckham-is-supported-by-wife-victoria-at-unveiling-of-his-statue/

David Beckham is Supported by Wife Victoria at Unveiling of His Statue!

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/03/03/watch-david-beckham-statue-unveiled-la-galaxy-home-stadium?autoplay=true

Watch: David Beckham statue unveiled by LA Galaxy at home stadium

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https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/47432089

David Beckham: LA Galaxy unveil statue before MLS season opener

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https://abc7.com/sports/david-beckhams-statue-unveiled-by-la-galaxy/5164990/

David Beckham's statue unveiled by LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park

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https://tucson.com/sports/growth-is-still-the-name-of-the-game-in-mls/article_52261cff-c4ad-5f16-b2be-82aecebfd8ce.html

Growth is still the name of the game in MLS

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https://wsvn.com/sports/inter-miami-cf-gives-preview-to-proposed-soccer-training-facility/

Inter Miami CF gives preview to proposed soccer training facility

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https://patch.com/florida/stpete/isocrates-relocates-headquarters-st-petersburg

iSOCRATES Relocates Headquarters To St. Petersburg

The company expects to create 50 new jobs in the next five years.

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https://stpetecatalyst.com/st-pete-vibe-at-the-heart-of-a-debate-over-business-growth-downtown/

St. Pete ‘vibe’ at the heart of a debate over business growth downtown

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http://www.dailypostathenian.com/sports/national/article_470a6c50-11f6-50e5-94f1-72317ed3ccaf.html

BenFred's 5: MLS commissioner Garber gives St. Louis something to talk about

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http://www.sportspromedia.com/from-the-magazine/mls-commissioner-don-garber-interview-feature

Being the Don: Talking business with MLS commissioner Garber

When Don Garber took the reins as Major League Soccer commissioner in 1999, the league was in danger of folding. Nearly 20 years on, the 61-year-old has played a pivotal role in putting soccer in North America on the map, and is leading MLS down a golden path.

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https://www.ibj.com/articles/72716-indy-elevens-race-to-join-major-league-soccer-must-clear-many-hurdles

Indy Eleven’s race to join Major League Soccer must clear many hurdles

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/setheverett/2019/02/28/green-bay-packers-ownership-model-takes-shape-with-soccer-team-in-tennessee/#5eb8ac73e569

Green Bay Packers Ownership Model Takes Shape With Soccer Team In Tennessee

In the world of startup sports, the key to any team’s success is capital.  How much money does it require to start a team?  Can the team afford to operate? Where will income come from? Usually, a team needs an owner willing to take the risk.  In Chattanooga, Tennessee, a soccer team took a page from the Green Bay Packers and raised more capital than anyone could have ever imagined.

Chattanooga Football Club, a soccer team that plays in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) this week announced that they have exceeded the $500,000 mark in the sale of limited public stock in the club in the first 30 days of the offering. They are the first American sports team to do so since the securities reform laws passed in late 2016 allowed such investments. Proceeds from the limited offering of 8,000 shares will support the club’s move from amateur to professional players and year-round operation.

“We remain impressed and overwhelmed with the breadth and scope of this project means not just for Chattanooga FC, but for community sports clubs in America in general,” said Tim Kelly, club chairman. “We have not done this frivolously or in a vacuum; this is an investment in a soccer club with solid business and community ties and a vision for success on and off the pitch, and we know that is key in trying and succeeding to this point. The ROI on this investment, big or small, is in the people and the community. We are nowhere done, but we are proving the concept works, and that’s very exciting.”

The Green Bay Packers are the only major team in the US owned and built by selling shares of stock, with those holding stock having some sort of say in how the club was run. A board still runs the NFL Packers and the most recent stock sale helped the team rebuild parts of Lambeau Field.

The Packers are also a rarity, as securities laws were changed over the years to make public ownership of entities like sports teams illegal.  Recently there was a change in the securities law that allowed for a small loophole to actually let well-structured sports clubs see what they could do with being owned by the community. In exchange, those with a share or a number of shares could have a say in team governance, and the club could use the dollars raised for capital to run the club. While most of the bylaws of elite professional leagues like the NFL and the NBA, and even Minor league Baseball make this tough to do, there are places where public ownership could work.  The first test earlier this year Chattanooga.

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https://menafn.com/1098189935/United-Premier-Soccer-League-Announces-North-Carolina-Expansion-with-Lazers-Soccer-Club

United Premier Soccer League Announces North Carolina Expansion with Lazers Soccer Club