Marcelo Claure addresses the crowd as Miami is awarded with an MLS franchise. (Eric Espada/Getty Images)
Boston-area educated Marcelo Claure and Jurgen Mainka played key roles in Club Internacional de Futbol Miami’s successful campaign to pass a stadium referendum in Tuesday's midterm election.
Claure has been involved with David Beckham’s attempt to start an MLS franchise in Miami since 2014. Several stadium sites had fallen through before voters approved a charter amendment “allowing for the lease and development of a soccer stadium and commercial complex at Melreese Golf Course.”
The City of Miami and Beckham’s group are expected to negotiate a 99-year lease to develop 73-acre Miami Freedom Park, which will include a 25,000-seat stadium. The privately-funded project is expected to cost $1 billion.
