Reuters/Miami

Retired English soccer star David Beckham is considering a proposal to build a sports high school at a new soccer stadium in Miami as part of his quest to bring a Major League Soccer (MLS)  team to the city.
Beckham’s investment group is discussing a proposal by Miami’s public education authority under which “Beckham High” would be part of the stadium development on a 10.5-acre city-owned site in the Little Havana neighbourhood. Beckham’s Miami Beckham United team would gain use of the land and an exemption from county property taxes, and it would pay the city $850,000 a year over 60 years for a total of $51 million. The deal would also allow Miami’s public school system, the nation’s fourth largest, to use the stadium for graduation ceremonies and other events.
“I can say the concept of a ‘Beckham High’ resonates quite strongly with me,” said schools superintendent Alberto Carvalho on Tuesday. “The idea of a partnership between Miami Beckham United, the city, county and school system benefiting children across Miami-Dade is exciting, but we have a great deal of details to iron out before an agreement is finalized,” said Beckham spokesman Tadd Schwartz.
Beckham swooped into Miami nearly two years ago, spurring a media frenzy as he exercised an option in his MLS contract to own a franchise. But Beckham and his investors including American Idol founder Simon Fuller and Sprint chief executive Marcelo Claure have struggled to find political support to secure a site for a $250 million, 30,000-seat arena. South Florida taxpayers have soured on public money for stadium deals after a $500 million baseball park for the Miami Marlins drew fire for being overly favourable to the wealthy owners, and the team failed to deliver wins.
Beckham United has said it will privately finance the stadium construction but is looking for a bargain on public land.
Last week Beckham’s group and the school district began hashing out details for the tract at the site just west of Miami’s downtown, which Beckham’s group previously spurned. It would sit adjacent to the Miami Marlins baseball park in the heart of the city’s heavily Hispanic Little Havana neighbourhood.
The 20-team MLS plans to grow to 24 by 2020 with expansion teams already announced for Minnesota, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. If successful, the deal would face voter approval during Florida’s March presidential primary.

Gerrard determined for Galaxy playoff test
Steven Gerrard will be aiming to prevent his debut season in Major League Soccer from coming to an abrupt end today as the Los Angeles Galaxy travel to Seattle for a must-win playoff game.  
The Galaxy’s regular season tailed off poorly with just one win in their final seven games and a 2-1 defeat to Sporting Kansas City at the weekend has left them facing a postseason trip to the Pacific Northwest to face the Sounders.  
Gerrard, whose form has fluctuated since he arrived in California in July, said he is confident the Galaxy can keep their season alive if they can improve their play in the final third against Seattle.  
“I think that we’ve done everything great until the last pass and the last finish,” the former Liverpool and England captain told the Galaxy’s official website.  
“That explains the reason why everyone is a bit flat and a bit down because we haven’t finished the good move and the good play off,” added Gerrard, who has scored only two goals in 13 appearances for his club.  
“We haven’t rewarded ourselves for all the good play. Football can be a tough game if you don’t make that last play or score that important goal. It can make you feel this way.  
“No one is feeling more disappointed or down or flat than me at the moment. I’m one of the experienced players in the dressing room, and I need to lead the way,” Gerrard said.  
The veteran midfielder added he was still haunted by a glaring miss against Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, when he was put clear only to see his shot cleared by goalkeeper Tim Melia.  
“I’ve played it 50 times in my sleep. That’s the type of player I am, I over-analyze, and it got me to where I am today,” Gerrard said. “Nothing’s going to change on that. I drive myself batty all day.”  
Galaxy captain Robbie Keane, who heads to Seattle after netting his 20th goal of the season in Sunday’s defeat, said Los Angeles would draw confidence from the fact they had beaten the Sounders at their CenturyLink Field fortress before.  
“The good thing is we know we can go there and win the game, because we’ve done it in the past,” he said.  
“We’ve played so much there we kind of know the field probably more than anybody else in this league. We have to go there and give it our best and make sure we come out of there with a win.