Miami Mayor on MLS/UM Stadium: 'Running Out of Time'
Is David Beckham finally going to concrete a plan to build an MLS stadium in Miami and potentially team up with Canes football?
Carlos Gimenez, the mayor of Miami-Dade County, joined WQAM to update South Florida with the latest.
"I think they just want to get a stadium built," Gimenez said on the Joe Rose Show Tuesday morning in regards to a waterfront venue. "It doesn't have to be on the water. They'd like to be somewhere close to downtown but it doesn't necessarily have to be on the water. And they're running out of time.
"Now with UM in the picture, I think it was a good move on their part, something I thought was a good move last year when they first came in... This thing needs to be resolved sooner than later."
Does outgoing UM President Donna Shalala think Stephen Ross is simply going to let the Canes out of their lease with Sun Life Stadium that has 17 years remaining?
"No, she doesn't think that and nobody does either," Gimenez said. "There's a net-present value to that lease and I'm sure that if the Board of Trustees gives the go ahead that there will be some negotiations to get out of the lease. Remember if we say go on the stadium, it's going to take a couple of years to get built."
Gimenez mentioned there are "two to three sites right now" but he stressed timing is an issue as they're competing with other cities for an MLS franchise, an opportunity that may not come around again for another decade.
The mayor also provided an interesting take on the support for sports franchises in South Florida.
"We do not tolerate teams that don't win," he said. "Actually what it does is it doesn't allow for mediocrity or failure. If you want to succeed in this town, then you need to succeed on the field."
