Beckham pays off for MLS, Galaxy

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05:11 AM ET 07.18
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Despite David Beckham spending much of his 2007 debut season in L.A.'s training room, Beckham Year 1 was still a resounding success in their boardroom. They cleared an extra $13 million in revenue before he even played, paying for his $5.5 million salary twice over. Finally healthy, Beckham Year 2 has been even better. Beckham drives up ESPN ratings 150 percent and he puts butts in the seats, to the tune of five-figures in each game. The average attendance of 16,360 rose to 27,094 for L.A's road games. With 45,000 already sold for tomorrow's Red Bulls match at Giants Stadium that number will go even higher. The Galaxy sold 300,000 Beckham jerseys last year, MLS Commissioner Don Garber saying "that's more than Derek Jeter, more than Reggie Bush." As a matter of fact, that's more than any athlete on the planet. For perspective, Reebok confirmed that Kobe Bryant and LeBron James were in the 75-80,000 range.

New York Post

David Beckham, Marty Melville/Getty Images

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July 18, 2008 05:25 AM ET

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"As a matter of fact, that's more than any athlete on the planet"
__________

It's actually a distant number 2. Over a million Yao jerseys were sold in China last year.

YODA

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July 18, 2008 06:28 AM ET

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@ YODA | 07/18/08, 05:25 AM
yeah but it doesn't count when 9.9 million of them are counterfeits (not joking)

I am proud of T&R for not just repost 3 stories from the laughable Ives or Goal.com for once.

sithomeandrot

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July 18, 2008 08:40 AM ET

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AWWWW, FU MICNATE!!!!! See, you can actually make money when you have some star power. Reel in afew more names and the same effect will happen.

Lazymike97

Saint Paul , MN

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July 18, 2008 09:18 AM ET

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The man brings in revenue. This we already knew.

J. HOVA: BROOKLYN

Brooklyn, NY

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July 18, 2008 09:58 AM ET

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So far he's doing exactly what he set out to do...

MSFC3221

Richmond , VA

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July 18, 2008 10:17 AM ET

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thats awesome, hope henry comes over too!

manny j

Miami , FL

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July 18, 2008 11:06 AM ET

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Remember a few MONTHS ago when people were saying he was a failure and washed up and that people would never pay MLS any attention no matter who comes here? Remember??

Wow! Can a man please play a full season healthy?!?!

MadridistAmericano

Decatur , GA

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July 18, 2008 11:24 AM ET

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i did a blog on this:

http://fannation.com/blogs/post/217777

The question is, who will be the new star that will come to make sure it stays up instead of dropping down

I wish the Red bulls would buy Eto'o on that 6month contract instead of that team from uzbekistan

jeevs BS

Schenectady , NY

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July 18, 2008 11:41 AM ET

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Sheva needs to be the next DP target for the MLS. He's still a worldwide superstar, he'd dominate the league, and he and his wife are both gorgeous, eloquent, classy, and love America.

cowace2

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July 18, 2008 11:43 AM ET

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I wish the Red bulls would buy Eto'o on that 6month contract instead of that team from uzbekistan

jeevs BS | 07/18/08, 11:24 AM
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I was just thinking that Jeevs!!

MadridistAmericano

Decatur , GA

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July 18, 2008 02:08 PM ET

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Who in the hell is Darren Beckman?

Chest McDeltoids

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July 18, 2008 02:15 PM ET

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Why waste all that money for such a short time to have him. If he wants to come retire that's fine but everyone knows he's going back to Europe. Absolutely stupid idea.

Keeper | 07/18/08, 12:34 PM
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Uh, this IS RBNY we're talking about....

MadridistAmericano

Decatur , GA

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July 18, 2008 02:16 PM ET

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MadridistAmericano

Decatur , GA

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July 18, 2008 02:16 PM ET

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MadridistAmericano

Decatur , GA

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July 18, 2008 02:16 PM ET

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MadridistAmericano

Decatur , GA

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July 18, 2008 02:17 PM ET

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my bad

MadridistAmericano

Decatur , GA

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July 18, 2008 02:25 PM ET

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Beckham's really setting the cogs in motion. I still think it was a bad call on his part to come here (Not because the MLS is bad, but because he still had enough talent to play CL footy), but its been great for the MLS. I think Henry is a possibility too, as the guy seems to geniunely like coming over here to visit. This sport is growing like crazy over here, its wonderful.