David Beckham bides his time as Miami arena plans stall for Major League Soccer franchise

Beckham's team swooped into Miami a year ago, full of irresistible excitement and lofty ideas, and got politicians to agree to negotiate a location for a new Major League Soccer stadium.

An enthusiastic Miami-Dade County Commission voted unanimously to authorise Mayor Carlos Gimenez to try to find a home for a professional soccer franchise to be owned by the retired English star.

Twelve months after that vote, there is still no stadium site. Beckham's group has stayed largely silent since June, regrouping - and, some supporters fear, reconsidering - after feeling burned by politicians who eagerly proposed potential sites on public land only to quickly back away from them.

The county and city commissions nixed two stadium proposals, stinging Beckham's team and forcing them to question whether they really wanted to come.

The Miami Beckham United organisation, which at first said it would take three months to weigh its remaining options, says it's still hunting for a stadium location, though quietly this time, with private property owners. After being denied twice, the group appears reluctant to openly discuss a new one until a deal - assuming one can be reached - is firmly in place.

"We have made very meaningful strides in the last couple of months," John Alschuler, Beckham's real estate adviser and lead negotiator, told the Miami Herald. "While nothing in this complex equation can be taken for granted, I am optimistic that there will be several positive announcements in the first quarter of next year."

Meantime, County Commissioner Juan Zapata, a Beckham supporter, said he plans to propose legislation in the new year asking Beckham to consider temporarily locating his team at Florida International University's main campus, which is in Zapata's district. Once there's a team for fans to cheer, negotiating a stadium may not be as difficult, Zapata said.