David Beckham plans to start negotiations with Miami to build his desired stadium next to Marlins Park, rejecting past concerns. A Miami Herald report.

David Beckham and his investors plan to start negotiations with Miami to build a soccer stadium on city land next to Marlins Park, rejecting past concerns about a site they now see as having the potential to be a thriving entertainment district.

“Obviously we are in conversations with the University of Miami, but we figured we are running out of time,” Marcelo Claure (David Beckham’s partner) told The Miami Herald on Friday. “MLS has been very clear: if we are going to bring soccer to Miami, it needs to be now.”

Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado announced the tentative deal at a news conference Friday after a video meeting with Claure. He said he would seek approval from city commissioners to start the talks over how Miami could provide the land for Beckham’s privately-financed stadium.

In his remarks, Regalado said he favored putting a final deal to city voters in a referendum. A referendum was considered a hurdle in past stadium talks, though similar ballot items have passed easily — such as SkyRise Miami tower on city land next, and a privately-funded expansion of tennis facilities at Miami-Dade’s Crandon Park.