Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 142846

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File Number: 142846

File Type: Resolution

Status: Amended

Version: 0

Reference:

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: USE OF FIU STADIUM AS TEMPORARY HOME STADIUM

Introduced: 12/30/2014

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action:

Agenda Date: 2/3/2015

Agenda Item Number: 11A29

Notes:

SEE 150573 FOR FINAL VERSION AS ADOPTED.

Title:

RESOLUTION DIRECTING COUNTY MAYOR OR MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO NEGOTIATE AGREEMENTS WITH ALL NECESSARY PARTIES FOR THE USE OF FIU STADIUM AS THE TEMPORARY HOME STADIUM FOR A NEW MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER FRANCHISE BASED IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

Indexes:	FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY (FIU)
	SOCCER

Sponsors:	Juan C. Zapata, Co-Prime Sponsor
	Jean Monestime, Co-Prime Sponsor
	Jose "Pepe" Diaz, Co-Prime Sponsor
	Esteban L. Bovo, Jr., Co-Sponsor
	Barbara J. Jordan, Co-Sponsor
	Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body	Date	Agenda Item	Action	Sent To	Due Date	Returned	Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners	2/3/2015	11A29	Amended
REPORT:	(SEE AGENDA ITEM 11A29 AMENDED; LEGISLATIVE FILE NO. 150573.)

Economic Development & Port Miami Committee	1/15/2015	2E	Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation				P
REPORT:	Assistant County Attorney Jess McCarty read the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. Commissioner Zapata spoke on the foregoing resolution and the efforts made to collaborate with potential partners such as Florida International University (FIU) and the community soccer fans, which he received a positive feedback in bringing professional soccer to South Florida. It was moved by Commissioner Zapata that the foregoing proposed resolution be forwarded to the BCC with a favorable recommendation. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Diaz and was opened for discussion. Commissioner Diaz addressed Commissioners Zapata and Monestime, as the two coprime sponsors and noted that this was long-term project in the past that had identified some solutions. He said this proposal was to involve the County Mayor in the negotiation to ensure FIU becomes the prime site for two years until the official site was established. Commissioner Diaz requested to be listed as a coprime sponsor for the foregoing proposed resolution. Commissioner Zapata noted the importance of the Mayor seeking FIU as an option for a soccer stadium. He spoke of other states with the same issue of not having a stadium and the success of the sport that resulted with a wonderful professional soccer stadium and team. Commissioner Zapata also spoke about the structure of FIU that was a fit for this sport. Commissioner Levine Cava questioned were there any updates regarding the negotiations for the permanent soccer stadium location. Chairwoman Jordan requested to a cosponsor on the forgoing proposed resolution as well. Hearing no objections, the Committee members proceeded to vote on the foregoing proposed resolution as presented.

County Attorney	12/30/2014		Referred	Economic Development & Port Miami Committee	1/15/2015

County Attorney	12/30/2014		Assigned	Michael B. Valdes		1/5/2015

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION DIRECTING COUNTY MAYOR OR MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO NEGOTIATE AGREEMENTS WITH ALL NECESSARY PARTIES FOR THE USE OF FIU STADIUM AS THE TEMPORARY HOME STADIUM FOR A NEW MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER FRANCHISE BASED IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

BODY
WHEREAS, the sport of soccer, the �World�s Game,� has over 265 million participants worldwide; and
WHEREAS, soccer has over 24 million participants in the United States and continues to increase in popularity; and
WHEREAS, Major League Soccer, the highest level of professional soccer in the United States and Canada, is third in average attendance among professional sports league in the United States; and
WHEREAS, due to the growth of soccer�s popularity, Major League Soccer has announced a strong interest in expanding its league; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County has demonstrated its support of soccer by strong attendance at local international matches and high television viewership as evidenced by Nielsen ratings of soccer matches, both due in large part to the County�s demographics; and
WHEREAS, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber announced last year that David Beckham had exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise to be located in Miami; and
WHEREAS, this Board in Resolution No. R-1062-13 has already directed the Mayor to identify viable locations in or near Downtown Miami for development of a soccer stadium facility for a new Major League Soccer franchise and analyze the feasibility of the development of a stadium at such locations; and
WHEREAS, the search for possible sites for a permanent soccer stadium facility remains ongoing; and
WHEREAS, while that search continues, this Board wishes to express to Major League Soccer and David Beckham�s ownership group that Miami-Dade County�s interest in having a professional soccer franchise remains ever-present; and
WHEREAS, this Board believes that it would assist the efforts to identify and develop a permanent location for a soccer stadium facility if a Major League Soccer franchise based in Miami-Dade County began playing professional matches as soon as possible because it would likely increase public support for the franchise and begin building a committed local fan base; and
WHEREAS, any such matches would have to be played at a temporary site until a permanent stadium can be identified and developed; and
WHEREAS, other Major League Soccer franchises, including the Houston Dynamo, have played their first season(s) at a temporary home stadium while an agreement for the development of a permanent soccer stadium was being negotiated; and
WHEREAS, David Beckham and his ownership group have already visited numerous sites that could serve as a possible temporary home for a Miami Major League Soccer franchise while a permanent soccer stadium was under construction; and
WHEREAS, FIU Stadium was one of the sites visited by officials from Major League Soccer and David Beckham�s ownership group; and
WHEREAS, FIU Stadium has already served as the home field for Miami FC, a professional soccer team in the former United Soccer Leagues, from 2007 to 2009, and also hosted matches during the 2009 and 2011 Confederation of North, Central American, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Gold Cup,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board directs the County Mayor or Mayor�s designee to negotiate agreements with all necessary parties for the use of FIU Stadium as the temporary home stadium for a new Major League Soccer franchise based in Miami-Dade County as part of the on-going efforts to identify viable locations in or near Downtown Miami for development of a soccer stadium facility for a new Major League Soccer franchise and present all necessary agreement(s) to the Board for its consideration and approval within 90 days from the effective date of this resolution. However, if the County Mayor or Mayor�s designee is unable to successfully negotiate the terms of an agreement as to the use of FIU Stadium as the temporary home stadium within the requisite time period, a report detailing the status of the negotiations shall be presented to this Board instead. The County Mayor or Mayor�s designee shall provide the report to this Board within 120 days of the effective date of this resolution and shall place the completed report on an agenda of the Board pursuant to Ordinance No. 14-65.