Beckham bucks rolling in for LA Galaxy

AFP - 20 April 2007 13:57

A young supporter tries on a Los Angeles Galaxy jersey in January 2007. Los Angeles Galaxy have already earned millions of dollars from the signing of David Beckham, who has yet to kick a ball in anger for the Major League Soccer club.

LONDON (AFP) - Los Angeles Galaxy have already earned millions of dollars from the signing of David Beckham, who has yet to kick a ball in anger for the Major League Soccer club.

Real Madrid midfielder Beckham will join the Galaxy in July after his contract with the Spanish giants ends at the end of the season.

The lure of Beckham has allowed Galaxy to sell an additional 7,000 season tickets, which translates into around five million dollars.

They have also increased the price of premium seats by 48 percent and are expecting revenue to double this coming season to around 10 million dollars.

To add to the coffers Herbalife Ltd, who sell nutritional and weight-loss products, have signed a five-year 20 million dollars agreement to have their names on club shirts. That equates to another four million dollars a year.

In all, Beckham's arrival should bring in an additional 14 million dollars in his first season - around nine million more than his annual playing contract with the club.

Tim Leiweke, chief executive officer of the Anschutz Entertainment Group, the Los Angeles-based company that owns Galaxy, said: "We were never worried about our financial commitment. We've already made our money back."