Beckham and the world's busiest cruise port

@doug_hanks

In Sunday's story on how David Beckham's soccer plans conflict with PortMiami's business plans, internal county documents reveal an open secret: Miami's cruise ship companies aren't thrilled with bringing a sports stadium to their home port. 

Norwegian's Colin Murphy wrote in an e-mail to PortMiami's Juan Kuryla on Dec. 19:

Hi Juan

I was reading that some members of the MD Commission were in favor of the soccer stadium in PortMiami! What are they thinking??

Can I assume we have nothing to worry about with this? Or could it happen?

Thanks

 

The email, uncovered in a Herald public-records request, does not record a written response from Kuryla. He probably called. 

Six days earlier, Royal Carribean CEO Richard Fain wrote a friendly letter to  Mayor Carlos Gimenez that states: "I want to assure you that we support the concept of a more productive use of this land whether that be a socccer stadium or other amenity." 

But Fain also noted that RCL itself may be interested in building on the stadium site, which sits next to the cruise company's headquarters and includes some RCL facilities. Then Fains notes: "At the same time, we have been evaluating expanding our future large ship presence here at PortMiami, and possibly making significant investments in port infrastructure on our corporate campus."

In an industry where shifting cruise ships stand as a top worry for port managers, those are some loaded words. 

Read the letter here:

Download RCCL to Mayor - Soccer Stadium 12-13-2013

 

Read the story by clicking here.

And while you're at it, read Barry Jackson's rundown on Beckham's efforts to get the University of Miami to join his stadium push. Dolphins owner Steve Ross had hoped to bring Beckham to Sun Life, but now Beckham is trying to snag Sun Life's top tenant.  

 

Six days earlier, Royal Carribean CEO Richard Fain wrote a friendly letter to  Mayor Carlos Gimenez that states: "I want to assure you that we support the concept of a more productive use of this land whether that be a socccer stadium or other amenity." 

But Fain also noted that RCL itself may be interested in building on the stadium site, which sits next to the cruise company's headquarters and includes some RCL facilities. Then Fains notes: "At the same time, we have been evaluating expanding our future large ship presence here at PortMiami, and possibly making significant investments in port infrastructure on our corporate campus."

In an industry where shifting cruise ships stand as a top worry for port managers, those are some loaded words. 

Read the letter here:

Download RCCL to Mayor - Soccer Stadium 12-13-2013

 

Read the story by clicking here.

And while you're at it, read Barry Jackson's rundown on Beckham's efforts to get the University of Miami to join his stadium push. Dolphins owner Steve Ross had hoped to bring Beckham to Sun Life, but now Beckham is trying to snag Sun Life's top tenant.