David Beckham to LA Galaxy: What does it mean for American Soccer?

By: Bob | January 11th, 2007

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beckhams.jpgThere have been entire forests cut down just to provide all of the paper over the years that has been needed to cover the rumors of David Beckham coming to play in the United States. Today the rumors became reality with a statement released by Beckham that he will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season and head to the bright lights, big city of Los Angeles to play for Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy starting in August. The price is not cheap, with the deal reportedly worth £128million ($250 million) over five years.

With that kind of money and the opportunity to play in a much more relaxed environment near his Hollywood pals while his age further erodes his skills, one can hardly fault Beckham for his decision. He still has the talent to play for a big club or to return to the Premiership for a few more years, but if he waited a couple years from now the move to MLS would not have been as lucrative for him either on or off the pitch.

What does this mean for soccer in the United States?

I am sure that many a tree will be chopped down in the coming days, weeks and months in an attempt to answer this question. Personally, I am of a mixed opinion on the matter. There is no doubt that a player like Beckham will raise the level of media interest in soccer and MLS, at least initially. Every city he plays in will have stories about him and expanded television coverage that will reach casual fans and non-fans alike. As much as anything he is a celebrity name in the United States and people are always curious about celebrities. He will undoubtedly be a visible marketing force helping to sell all kinds of products. Again, this will also penetrate a segment of the population that could care less about soccer.

All of this will have the effect of increasing attendance at MLS matches, at least the ones in which he is involved and at least initially. We saw this when the hype machine known as Freddy Adu joined the league. Will this still be the case five years from now when Beckham is on his last legs as a player? Will this still bet he case when people come to realize that he is unlikely to score every match and that he might not be a dominant player? Maybe, maybe not.

Helping to expose the sport of soccer to more people is unarguably a good thing. The one thing I do fear is that people will come to associate MLS and American soccer in general with David Beckham. Once he is gone, will their interest leave as well? If there is not another celebrity superstar to take his place, will anyone care about watching obscure players from who graduated from American colleges play against one another? If his play doesn’t provide a thrill each match will people fall back on the common American mantra that soccer is boring?

The best hope is that at least a percentage of fans who come out of curiosity to see Beckham play will come to find that they enjoy the Beautiful Game and that MLS is as good of a way as any to enjoy the Beautiful game. The other hope is that he will inspire a future generation of players to fall in love with the game just like the NASL inspired many oft he current players today.

MLS is obviously investing a lot of its resources into this because they thing the Beckham impact will be long lasting. Time will only tell if this is a wise investment.

Your thoughts?




Category Category: MLS, Spain La Liga

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Comments  

  • Peter |  January 11th, 2007 at 9:26 am

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    He’ll put some butts in the seats but I don’t think it will inspire people an id=”high_4″ class=”searchterm4″>toan> watch games on the television. I also think he will be surprised by the level of play in MLS. He’s not going an class=”searchterm4″>toan> come in and have an easy time of things, but surely he’ll be one of the an class=”searchterm4″>toan>p players in the league if he an id=”high_2″ class=”searchterm2″>doesan>n’t get arrested for killing Landon Donovan.

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  • Nick |  January 11th, 2007 at 9:36 am

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    He can stroll around thanks an id=”high_4″ class=”searchterm4″>toan> his lack of pace, take the corners, free-kicks, penalties, throw-ins, kick-offs, goal-kicks — anything but tackle! The money’s not an class=”searchterm4″>toan>o bad though.

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  • Jeff Bull |  January 11th, 2007 at 10:07 am

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    I think your sentence about what happens when people realize he won’t score in every game is the chief factor in the longevity of any “Beckham effect.” I’m also still dubious on the paycheck and doubly dubious as to what effect this will have on the most significant aspect in this: the quality of play. I’ll readily grant that Beckham is better than most, if not all, MLS players (I’d take DeRosario over him anyday; even Dempsey for that matter), but he’s simply not good enough to rule over all, or force a general raising of the bar across the league.

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  • anon |  January 11th, 2007 at 10:18 am

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    Comparing him an id=”high_4″ class=”searchterm4″>toan> Adu is pretty silly an class=”searchterm4″>toan> be honest. We haven’t remotely seen the sort of general interest in MLS that we’ll see now. Adu made it an class=”searchterm4″>toan> PTI, Beckham will be promoted on every other TV show in the country.

    Naturally it won’t be the same in 5 years, but it wouldn’t have been no matter where he was playing. He’ll fade eventually, but if MLS and the Galaxy have played their cards right, in 5 years the league will be in a lot better shape an class=”searchterm4″>toan> handle a fading Beckham. Unless he has some sort of catastrophic injury right away, I think this is a wonderful thing for MLS. If the dollar amounts are really an id=”high_1″ class=”searchterm1″>whatan> they’re saying, it’s clear that the team (and/or the league) has managed an class=”searchterm4″>toan> get a piece of his image rights, and that impact can’t be understated.

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  • Laurie |  January 11th, 2007 at 10:20 am

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    Definitely a good thing in the longterm.

    Yes, the hype he generates may fizzle a bit when he ages and retires — Beckham may CURRENTLY be one-of-a-kind as far as his ability an id=”high_4″ class=”searchterm4″>toan> bring interest an class=”searchterm4″>toan> the game. But who’s an class=”searchterm4″>toan> say there’s not another Beckham right around the corner waiting an class=”searchterm4″>toan> take his place when Beckham retires. If that’s even needed at that point.

    Plus the money from things like TV rights will skyrocket. I saw the hype machine that came with Beckham when he played here with Madrid against DC United, and it was a thing an class=”searchterm4″>toan> behold. Attention equals viewers, and viewers equal money, and MLS really needs that right now if they’re ever going an class=”searchterm4″>toan> have any ability an class=”searchterm4″>toan> compete on a world stage.

    And think of the jealousy and rivalries that will occur over Beckham’s humongous salary and the attention he commands? Think of the interest those rivalries will generate in the press! MLS desperately needs some rivalries an class=”searchterm4″>toan> get the interest level up.

    Now I’m hoping for a Seattle expansion team!

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  • Chris |  January 11th, 2007 at 12:01 pm

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    Thank god he didn’t come back an id=”high_4″ class=”searchterm4″>toan> the Premiership, I’m sick of hearing about him and his deluded wife. US fans will soon see he’s the biggest example of the ‘Emperor’s New Clothes’ there’s ever been. The England national team, Real Madrid, Man.Utd, Chelsea, AC Milan etc don’t want him because as a player he offers very little now. If the Galaxy want an class=”searchterm4″>toan> sell shirts in Japan though he’s your man.

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  • Dr.fatal |  January 11th, 2007 at 1:01 pm

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    This an id=”high_2″ class=”searchterm2″>doesan>n’t an id=”high_3″ class=”searchterm3″>meanan> jack! BIG WASTE OF MONEY. And that’s money that could have gone elsewhere; more on developing an id=”high_1″ class=”searchterm1″>whatan> we have here. Yes, Americans love superstars but not footballers. Those are different a breed. MLS needs an id=”high_4″ class=”searchterm4″>toan> stay away from the notion that big star will help the sport grow and making the U.S. audience accepting soccer as a pastime. Real Sport is about local pride and soccer is all about that as well as sportsmanship and passion. Things you don’t find in many sports in the US.

    If MLS is looking an class=”searchterm4″>toan> please the U.S audience, then they need an class=”searchterm4″>toan> think of a way an class=”searchterm4″>toan> make the game more entertaining (Americanize). Maybe a bit like wrestling, otherwise stick with football not soccer. And on a final note, stay away from British style of play, that route will never get you a cup or skillful players.

    My 2 cents!

    And not millions of pounds

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  • dufless |  January 11th, 2007 at 1:23 pm

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    The most in-depth analysis of the Beckham signing. He will earn around $200-$250 million over 5 years. Which means he could buy two MLS teams every year. The entire league is only worth around $275 million. Ridiculous.

    Check out

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  • Luis |  January 11th, 2007 at 1:39 pm

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    Overrated, overpaid, and looking for some love from the stands. At least the lifestyle isn’t an id=”high_4″ class=”searchterm4″>toan>o bad for him in LA. This will end up being one of the biggest non events of the year in the MLS.

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  • Jules Hornbrook |  January 11th, 2007 at 2:13 pm

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    David Beckham will do much for USAsoccer” or, as we call in back in England, football. He is a quality player and many feel that he should still have a place in the national side. Moreover, he has become an ambassador for the game. Despite numerous attempts by the media an id=”high_4″ class=”searchterm4″>toan> tarnish his name (personal san class=”searchterm4″>toan>ries) he still commands many column inches in English and worldwide papers. He WILL put bums on seats. He WILL attract massive media attention. The “family man” angle will help, especially as he can nearly field a 5-a-side team of his own. POSH spice (his Mrs) would be one of the goal posts, bless her. Good luck an class=”searchterm4″>toan> him, them and all. He’ll be good value, an id=”high_1″ class=”searchterm1″>whatan>ever the ludicrous $figures being quoted…

    Jules, Crewe (England): http://images-of-crewe.blogspot.com/

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Irishdownunder |  January 11th, 2007 at 9:36 pm

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    $250,000,000.00
    ….How much?
    Don’t worry, most of that comes from direct sponsorship from companies such as Pepsi & Gillette not MLS or LA Galaxy.

    Posted from Australia Australia

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  • Gonzalo |  January 12th, 2007 at 5:56 am

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    I think all this overblown talk of his deal with the Galaxy being “worth” $250 million conveniently ignores that the vast majority of the money is an id=”high_4″ class=”searchterm4″>toan> come from his image and sponsorship deals. At Real Madrid he only received 50% of this income (for deals signed after he joined 2003, that is) and he is now free an class=”searchterm4″>toan> continue earning the an class=”searchterm4″>toan>tality of this income.

    His actual salary from the Galaxy has been quoted at around 3 million euros a year, which translates an class=”searchterm4″>toan> just under $4 million a year

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  • erkan |  February 17th, 2007 at 8:26 am

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    MAMA i think beckham just changed an id=”high_4″ class=”searchterm4″>toan> LA galaxy because of his money he will gain

    Posted from Singapore Singapore

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  • Female Soccer Fan |  April 14th, 2007 at 3:19 am

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    I recently read of his interest an id=”high_4″ class=”searchterm4″>toan> play for England again. Who can blame him? I’m not sure America will
    ever grow an class=”searchterm4″>toan> love soccer in the same way they do in
    Europe and Latin America. I am a woman and love soccer. I enjoy watching the game because of the talent of the sport. He is talented and has a great deal an class=”searchterm4″>toan> offer
    in England or the US. an id=”high_1″ class=”searchterm1″>Whatan>ever David decides an class=”searchterm4″>toan> do,
    he will be welcomed.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Anthony |  April 14th, 2007 at 8:38 pm

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    David Beckham is hands down the best midfielder in the game, and if the previous commenan id=”high_4″ class=”searchterm4″>toan>rs watched soccer,they would know that. he is worth that much not just because ofhis skill bu because of his name, he will open the door, and behind that door will be america saying we support soccer,(the biggest sport int he world) and we will say with the most famous soccer player in the hisan class=”searchterm4″>toan>ry of the sport…next an class=”searchterm4″>toan> peile’…as our poster boy for america. and when the fifa world cup comes around, it will be his last run in that world championship, and will probably take us all the way an class=”searchterm4″>toan> the semi-finals, if not finals, not because of his ability, but his intimidation and knowlage he will bring an class=”searchterm4″>toan> a team that is dead and needs everybit of talent it can get… i.e. American Soccer team

    Posted from United States United States

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