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Beckham presses forward with Miami stadium bid

By WTOP Staff

CHRISTINE ARMARIO
Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) — Two months have passed since English soccer star David Beckham hopped on a stage, his back to Miami’s sparkling Biscayne Bay, and announced plans to start a Major League Soccer franchise. The plan — and Beckham — have been almost universally accepted by every sector of the city.

What his international fame has not been able to attract: agreement on where to put the stadium.

“Until a few weeks ago, it was very smooth,” Beckham said. “And nothing that wants to be — in my eyes, has to be — successful, was ever going to be that smooth.”

Beckham and his team have set their sights on the Port of Miami, 520 acres known as the “Cruise Ship Capital of the World” and the “Cargo Gateway to the Americas.” Nearly every portion of the port has been developed, with one notable exception: The southwest corner with a spectacular Miami skyline view .

The plan’s chief opponent is the Miami Seaport Alliance, a coalition of business and political leaders including Royal Caribbean Cruises, one of the world’s largest cruise operators. Its offices are next to the proposed site.

The alliance contends the stadium would threaten cruise and cargo operations, creating increased traffic and security risks — concerns Beckham’s partners insist are unfounded. The coalition also argues a stadium would ultimately endanger the 207,000 jobs the port supports, while creating less-lucrative positions like concession stand employees.

“A soccer stadium at PortMiami is downright nutty,” declares an ad the coalition printed in several newspapers.

There is much at stake for the port: The county is spending more than $2 billion on capital improvements to make Miami a global logistics hub. The port is being deepened to accommodate the larger ships that will traverse the expanded Panama Canal, set to open in 2015. The port is about $1 billion in debt, making it one of the nation’s most indebted. Moody’s recently cut its credit rating.

“We’re talking about huge economic input or huge economic loss,” said John Fox, the alliance’s president and a former Royal Caribbean executive.

One option mentioned to improve the port’s finances: Commercial development of the port’s southwest corner. The port’s master plan notes commercial real estate income generates revenue for other ports, but opponents say Beckham’s plan won’t provide that.

“The port and tourism are the two engine drivers of Miami,” said Norman Braman, a billionaire car dealer and former Philadelphia Eagles owner supporting the Miami Seaport Alliance. He unsuccessfully opposed the Miami Marlins baseball stadium, but then led the successful 2011 recall of the county mayor who pushed it through without holding an election. “And a stadium and commercial development that’s been proposed just doesn’t belong there.”

Beckham’s consultant, John Alschuler, a real estate adviser who has led waterfront development projects in New York City, Hong Kong and other metropolises, said development of a stadium and other commercial property would likely generate $6 million to $10 million in annual revenue.

He said fewer than 100 jobs would be created directly by the franchise, but thousands more would result indirectly at restaurants and nearby businesses. Alschuler also denied traffic congestion would worsen, noting fans wouldn’t arrive until around 6:30 p.m., hours after the cruise ships have sailed.

“It’s sheer, deliberate, willful misinformation,” Alschuler said of the alliance’s claims.

South Florida’s last soccer team, the Miami Fusion, played 30 miles north of the port and lasted only three years until 2001 because of low attendance.

That history, perhaps, led Beckham and associates to two conclusions: The stadium must be downtown, and the team must win.

The decision ultimately rests with the mayor and county commission. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez has asked Beckham to consider an alternative site near the Heat’s arena. But he said he could potentially support a Port of Miami stadium.

Beckham, for his part, came back to Miami on Tuesday, holding private meetings with commissioners and weighing Gimenez’s suggested site.

“We want to be a positive for people,” Beckham said. “This part of America has not had a soccer team for quite a few years, and they deserve one.”

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Follow Christine Armario on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cearmario

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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