David Beckham Will Tuck His MLS Stadium in Next to Marlins Park

It wasn't his first choice for location. But soccer great David Beckham is making his dream come true -- he's bringing an MLS team to Miami. Beckham Miami United agreed to a deal with the City of Miami Friday that will see a privately funded, 25,000-seat stadium built next to Marlins Park and the site of the old Orange Bowl.

The announcement arrived just as hopes of a deal ever being reached had started to fade. It was called a “milestone” by Miami mayor Tomas Regalado.

Marcelo Claure, jubilant partner of the former English skipper, said: “The time is now … This is the moment of truth.”

He later tweeted: “Great meeting with @Tomas_Regalado we have presented him our intentions to bring Futbol and a new soccer stadium in the former Orange Bowl.”

Though the parties had talked with the University of Miami about including Hurricanes football in the new stadium, UM has been unable to decouple from its current contract to play at Sun Life Stadium. Also, seating capacity in the new facility would be inadequate. The university says it needs 40,000 seats for its games.

The stadium will house Miami’s first MLS team since the Miami Fusion ceased operations in 2001.

While the location isn’t the glitzy, waterfront Port Miami paradise the former Manchester United and LA Galaxy midfielder had pitched in his original presentation, Friday’s deal will end the conjecture, giving Beckham Miami United a pro sports and entertainment mecca in the under-served Little Havana district.