Beckham’s Miami Plans Hit Snag

BBC Sport reports, the proposed stadium site for David Beckham’s Inter Miami franchise in the MLS has arsenic contamination levels more than twice the legal limit, says an environmental report.

”This obviously causes great concerns,” Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said.

Melreese golf course, where plans are in place to build a stadium, mall, hotel and public park has been closed by Miami’s city council after the findings, holding up the $1bn development.

In an interview with the Miami Herald, Suarez added, ”Basically, the site has significantly more contamination than is commercially reasonable.”

The site was formerly used as a waste site for incinerator ash.

Environmental firm EE&G, commissioned by Inter Miami, found barium and lead levels also exceeded legal limits. Consequently, the deal to build a stadium for Inter Miami on the proposed Miami Freedom Park has not yet been finalized.

An Inter Miami spokesman said, ”We will be working with the city to implement a remediation plan that is thorough, and provides residents and visitors a destination that is safe for all to enjoy.”

Inter Miami are set to join the MLS in 2020 as a new franchise and will initially play in an 18,000-seat arena in Fort Lauderdale.