• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
MENUMENU
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • FlaglerLive Board of Directors
    • Comment Policy
    • Mission Statement
    • Our Values
  • Live Calendar
  • Submit Obituary
  • Submit an Event
  • Support FlaglerLive
  • Advertise on FlaglerLive (386) 503-3808
  • Search Results

FlaglerLive

No Bull, no Fluff, No Smudges

MENUMENU
  • Flagler
    • Flagler County Commission
    • Beverly Beach
    • Economic Development Council
    • Flagler History
    • Mondex/Daytona North
    • The Hammock
    • Tourist Development Council
  • Palm Coast
    • Palm Coast City Council
    • Palm Coast Crime
  • Bunnell
    • Bunnell City Commission
    • Bunnell Crime
  • Flagler Beach
    • Flagler Beach City Commission
    • Flagler Beach Crime
  • Cops/Courts
    • Circuit & County Court
    • Florida Supreme Court
    • Federal Courts
    • Flagler 911
    • Fire House
    • Flagler County Sheriff
    • Flagler Jail Bookings
    • Traffic Accidents
  • Rights & Liberties
    • Fourth Amendment
    • First Amendment
    • Privacy
    • Second Amendment
    • Seventh Amendment
    • Sixth Amendment
    • Sunshine Law
    • Third Amendment
    • Religion & Beliefs
    • Human Rights
    • Immigration
    • Labor Rights
    • 14th Amendment
    • Civil Rights
  • Schools
    • Adult Education
    • Belle Terre Elementary
    • Buddy Taylor Middle
    • Bunnell Elementary
    • Charter Schools
    • Daytona State College
    • Flagler County School Board
    • Flagler Palm Coast High School
    • Higher Education
    • Imagine School
    • Indian Trails Middle
    • Matanzas High School
    • Old Kings Elementary
    • Rymfire Elementary
    • Stetson University
    • Wadsworth Elementary
    • University of Florida/Florida State
  • Economy
    • Jobs & Unemployment
    • Business & Economy
    • Development & Sprawl
    • Leisure & Tourism
    • Local Business
    • Local Media
    • Real Estate & Development
    • Taxes
  • Commentary
    • The Conversation
    • Pierre Tristam
    • Diane Roberts
    • Guest Columns
    • Byblos
    • Editor's Blog
  • Culture
    • African American Cultural Society
    • Arts in Palm Coast & Flagler
    • Books
    • City Repertory Theatre
    • Flagler Auditorium
    • Flagler Playhouse
    • Flagler Youth Orchestra
    • Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
    • Palm Coast Arts Foundation
    • Special Events
  • Elections 2022
    • Amendments and Referendums
    • Presidential Election
    • Campaign Finance
    • City Elections
    • Congressional
    • Constitutionals
    • Courts
    • Governor
    • Polls
    • Voting Rights
  • Florida
    • Federal Politics
    • Florida History
    • Florida Legislature
    • Florida Legislature
    • Ron DeSantis
  • Health & Society
    • Flagler County Health Department
    • Ask the Doctor Column
    • Health Care
    • Health Care Business
    • Covid-19
    • Children and Families
    • Medicaid and Medicare
    • Mental Health
    • Poverty
    • Violence
  • All Else
    • Daily Briefing
    • Americana
    • Obituaries
    • News Briefs
    • Weather and Climate
    • Wildlife

David Beckham Lobbies Tallahassee for Tax Breaks on a Soccer Stadium in Miami

March 25, 2014 | FlaglerLive | 4 Comments

Because he really needs tax breaks. (Bay Area Bias)
David Beckham earned $47 million last year. (Bay Area Bias)

Lawmakers and some lucky celebrity watchers swooned over David Beckham as the soccer superstar shook up the Capitol on Tuesday while making a pitch for sports stadium tax breaks.

Elected officials — including Gov. Rick Scott — and staffers flooded Twitter with “selfies” alongside Beckham, who wants to bring a professional soccer team to Miami and has set his goal on the Port of Miami as a potential stadium site.

Beckham and Rick Scott in a selfie Scott posted on his Twitter account.
Beckham and Rick Scott in a selfie Scott posted on his Twitter account.
“Great meeting with David Beckham today. #selfie,” read a message posted by Scott’s official governor’s office Twitter account Tuesday afternoon accompanied by an overexposed picture of Scott and Beckham.

In addition to Scott, Beckham met with House Speaker Will Weatherford, Senate President Don Gaetz and dozens of lawmakers. Beckham’s visit to the capital city came just a day after a Senate committee passed a measure that includes elements of a stadium project-rating process favored by Weatherford.

“It was great to see David Beckham in the Capitol today during a surprise drop in. #justanotherdayintheoffice,” Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, tweeted in a message also paired with a photo.

Beckham met with reporters at lobbyist Brian Ballard’s office after leaving the Capitol in a star-struck state. Tuesday’s visit was his first to Tallahassee, Beckham said.

“I know it’s going to sound silly and people will probably get a laugh. I love the moss on the trees. I’ve only seen it in scary movies. I’ve never seen it actually close up. It’s amazing. I took a lot of selfies myself,” said Beckham, wearing a black suit with his heavily tattooed hands and wrists peeking out from beneath the cuffs of a white shirt.

Beckham said he received no assurances from lawmakers about adding his yet-to-be-built stadium to the professional sports stadiums that receive sales tax rebates.

“No one’s promised me anything. The people that I’ve met, they’ve promised me they support having the team in Miami and are excited about that. It’s good that they haven’t promised me anything because then I know it is going to be fair and I know that their decision will be down to what they feel is best for the state,” he said.


Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross failed to persuade lawmakers to add Sun Life stadium last year despite aggressive, last-minute lobbying for his cause. The stadium bill died on the last night of the 2013 legislative session.

Beckham said he expects he will return to Tallahassee as lawmakers mull proposals that would require the state Department of Economic Opportunity to set up an evaluation process for proposed sales-tax rebates to attract or retain professional sports teams through stadium improvements and construction.

“I’m sure I’m going to need to come back here. At the end of the day, I’m very committed to this cause. I’m very committed to what we’re going to make here. And that’s what I’m all about. I’ve always been committed to everything I’ve set my mind to. It’s not something that we’re going to start the team and then in two years say thank you very much and leave. This is something that I’m in for the long haul and something I’m very excited about. I know we’re going to make Miami proud to have a stadium like we hope to build and that people in Miami and people around America will be proud of,” he said.

Tuesday’s legislative selfie Twitter trend didn’t go unnoticed by Billy Corben, a documentary director based in Miami.

“In November, I will vote for every Florida politician that doesn’t have a selfie with David Beckham. Both of them,” he tweeted.

–Dara Kam, News Service of Florida

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
You and your neighbors collectively read our articles about 25,000 times each day (that's not a typo) with up to 65,000 daily reads during emergencies like hurricanes. Flagler County residents rely on FlaglerLive for essential, bold and analytical journalism that cannot be found anywhere else. But we depend on your support. Please join our December fund drive! If you donate the cost of a scoop of ice cream, you will be helping us continue to provide comprehensive local news and honest, serious journalism for our community. If you can donate more or become a monthly donor, even better. Donations are tax deductible since FlaglerLive is a 501(c)(3) non-profit news organization. Donate by clicking anywhere in this box. Think of it as buying a scoop, in every sense of the term!  
All donors' identities are kept confidential and anonymous.
   

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dave Sullivan says

    March 25, 2014 at 9:06 pm

    Orlando has recently been approved for a major league soccer franchise
    And the team will be in the league next season. I believe they will play at the University
    Of Central Florida until the new Orlando soccer only stadium is completed.
    Do not see any reason for Central and Northern Florida legislators to push
    for tax breaks in Miami on soccer until the Orlando franchise gets established.
    Dave

    Reply
  2. Charles Ericksen Jr says

    March 26, 2014 at 7:44 am

    Maybe Mr. Beckham should use some of the profits , from the sale of his Calvin Kline underwear ,to pay for the stadium..

    Reply
  3. Brutus says

    March 26, 2014 at 7:55 am

    NO SOCCER STADIUMS in AMERICA…….Its just to “girlie” of a sport !!!!!!

    Reply
  4. confidential says

    March 27, 2014 at 7:31 am

    I am all for soccer or any other sport…but do not suck taxpayers monies for that! Those events are very profitable and they should be self sustaining. How come we have no money for unemployment when workers are laid off, no money for food stamps for children of the poor, no Medicaid and no enough funds to take care of our maimed soldiers when the come back home if so! But we do have our tax funds for sports teams and owners stadiums funding, while these dudes are millionaires? C’mon! That is why I see the distortion of capitalism that compares to communism. Just instead of being the state elite the beneficiaries like in communist countries, here in our democracy are the wealthy elite individuals.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Advertisers

  • grand living realty
  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents
  • WNZF Creekside Festival

Recent Comments

  • Been There on Florida’s Policing of Public Restroom Gender Draws Federal Lawsuit from Trans and Nonbinary Group
  • Been There on Bible Challenge in Flagler Schools Unravels Inconsistencies, Arbitrariness and Confusion in Review Process
  • Wow on Flagler School Board Wants ‘Standing’ Closed-Door Meetings Every 3 Months. That Would Be Illegal.
  • JimboXYZ on Flagler School Board Wants ‘Standing’ Closed-Door Meetings Every 3 Months. That Would Be Illegal.
  • Jane on Flagler School Board Wants ‘Standing’ Closed-Door Meetings Every 3 Months. That Would Be Illegal.
  • Maria on Flagler School Board Wants ‘Standing’ Closed-Door Meetings Every 3 Months. That Would Be Illegal.
  • Annie Pledge-Oddo on Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village
  • Mary Jane on Sally Hunt Raises Questions About Using Schools as Shelters During Hurricane Emergencies
  • steve on DeSantis Solution to Climate Change: Burn More Fossil Fuels
  • Roy on Sally Hunt Raises Questions About Using Schools as Shelters During Hurricane Emergencies
  • ban the GOP on DeSantis Solution to Climate Change: Burn More Fossil Fuels
  • Treeman on DeSantis Solution to Climate Change: Burn More Fossil Fuels
  • Nephew Of Uncle Sam on DeSantis Solution to Climate Change: Burn More Fossil Fuels
  • Ben Hogarth on DeSantis Solution to Climate Change: Burn More Fossil Fuels
  • Pogo on The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, October 2, 2023
  • Someone on Sally Hunt Raises Questions About Using Schools as Shelters During Hurricane Emergencies

Log in