MIAMI (Legal Newsline) – The ballot measure that approved a new soccer stadium in Miami was written adequately, a Florida appeals court has ruled.
The Third District Court of Appeal ruled against Bruce Matheson on Aug. 5 and in favor of Major League Soccer club Inter Miami CF and owner David Beckham, who is planning a 25,000 stadium on City property that has received approval from voters.
Matheson claimed the summary of the referendum didn’t give voters enough information. He said Miami camouflaged an amendment that deletes competitive bidding and fair market requirements to authorize a lease of taxpayer-owned property without a request for bids.
But the appeals court found that, for only being allowed 75 words, it did a fine job of describing what was at stake in 72.
“It should be noted… that 75 words does not allow for the presentation of the economics of drawing an international soccer team to a municipality,” says the decision, written by Judge Judge Vance Salter wrote.
“Does ‘fair market value’ in this instance include income generated for City businesses and voters if an internationally televised sports franchise locates here? The purpose of a ballot summary is not to inform on every detail.”
The court wrote Matheson should be commended for protecting the interests of Miami but he failed to show the summary was defective.