A proposal to build a soccer stadium for Miami's MLS expansion team and an adjacent commercial complex will go to a public vote this November after approval from the Miami City Commission by a 3-2 decision on Wednesday, theMiami Herald reports.
Miami voters will choose whether to allow the city to lease land to Miami's ownership group, headed by David Beckham and Jorge and Jose Mas, for the construction of a planned "Miami Freedom Park" complex on land that is currently a public golf course.
The project would include not only the construction of a 25,000-seat stadium, but also restaurant and retail space, office buildings, hotels, athletic fields and a public park.
The council approved allowing a vote on Wednesday after initially delaying the decision the previous week. The Herald reports the favorable vote came after concessions from the ownership group, most notably a promise that all team employees would be paid a $15/hour minimum wage. All contractors leasing space at the park would also eventually be required to pay a minimum wage that started at $11/hour and rose $1 each year until hitting $15.
Miami was officially awarded an MLS expansion team in January.
