Huge news just coming in from Madrid...

David Beckham has announced that he will sign a 5 year, $250 million contract with the LA Galaxy. This signing gives MLS the star power it has been lacking (and US soccer leagues in general have been lacking since Pele signed for the NY Cosmos). Beckham will definitely bring more attention to MLS, and hopefully, more credibility...

Awww soookie soookie now...the Beck's are about to storm the US

That is FANTASTIC news! Does the entire MLS league even have that much money? Let alone one club?? Regardless, i love that he'll be close enough for me to get to see him play.

How in the world could an MLS club afford to pay someone that much money? Don't most MLS players only make a couple hundred thousand?

But it still does peak my interest a little bit in a sport that I would normally not pay much attention to.

That's amazing. I didn't even know there were clubs worth $250 Mil.

The last time the Becks came to the US they thought they would be overwhelmed with attention and it basically fell flat. Im sorta curious how the Galaxy can afford that frankly. It may spike some interest in the league but I dont see it as making a huge difference at all. Even though soccer is popular with kids now, you basically do not see many of them going to any pro games at all. Youll probably get some sort of a blip amongst foreigners or immigrants to the games ( I dont say that maliciously.. just as a reference) who may already be interested in it.

And not for anything.. if you find soccer boring as hell to watch...having becks here wont change that. I was in the UK last year for the world cup and watched a game in a pub that was screaming...the game i was watching ended 1-0 with the goal being an own goal during the first 5 minutes. The boredom of the game was excrutiating. The only good thing was that slightly drunk pretty english girls liked slightly buzzed american guys <grin> ( the bi side of me)

I guess Phil Anschutz will reach deep into his own pockets to pay Beckham? I mean he should still have a little bit left from his $1 Billion sale of Qwest stock a while back.

It should definitely help the gate receipts at the opposing stadiums whenever the Galaxy visits -- I can see RFK being sold out. And maybe a better TV deal?

Yes, Mr. Anschutz will be. Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), the group that owns the Galaxy (and a couple other MLS teams), will pay for most of Beckham's salary, as mentioned in the recent change in MLS rules- the Designated Player Rule allows for a club to sign a player and the club's owners to pay for his salary beyond the league max.

As for the TV deal, we'll see. ESPN and SUM (Soccer United Marketing, the group that owns MLS TV rights) just negotiated a new deal at the end of last year, a deal that had ESPN buying the rights for the first time. That should lead to increased TV coverage and marketing....

The interesting thing to see will be who the next big signing is. All the rumors and speculation point to the NY Red Bulls signing Ronaldo....

Also, remember that due to his contract with Real Madrid and the FIFA "transfer windows", Beckham cannot play for the Galaxy until August 15th. Basically, Beckham is staying with Real Madrid till the summer, and then he can come to the Galaxy, but because of the periods during which FIFA allows clubs to sign players, Beckham cannot play till the next transfer window opens (Aug. 15th in the US)...

Yes, this is most welcoming news for soccer, a sport that has languished for some time (since Pele) to gain a hold here in America. Beckham is the easily the most recognizable face for soccer here in America. Good times are coming to American soccer!

Huge gamble. Wonder how much of that contract is "performance-based" as in how well will the league do with him playing.

Big problem for soccer here is weather. Unless you have covered stadiums the beautiful game just aint as much fun to watch.

Good location to experiment - LA that is. California teams were both finalists in the NCAA championship this past year though the ACC has dominated in recent years. Decent fan base and "Hollywood" to boot.

Becks will now hold the title of the big-time pro player with the highest pitched voice (taking that dubious title from current holder Jeff Garcia, QB for the Eagles) and his metrosexual persona could make for some really interesting social appearances. I anticipate that more than any influence on the quality of USA play.

If he draws more big-name players to the USA that too could be more important than what he actually does on the field.

So I have a friend that works for an MLS team and it is going to be very exciting for all of us!
From what I hear most of his $250 Mil will come from sponsorship deals.
I hear that only maybe 30 mil will be coming direectly from AEG. But it is going to be good for everyone involved in soccer!

Good timing for Toronto to join the MLS. Beckham's signing increased season ticket sales for the new team here with well over 100 season tickets purchased today alone to raise the total to about 7,000. If a pro soccer team is ever going to work here, it seems like the perfect combination of events to make it work. The higher profile because of the Beckham signing., a new stadium - which always attracts interest for a while, MLSE - owners of the Raptors and Leafs being the team's owners, which means lots of marketing dollars. And probably most significantly - Toronto playing host to many games - including the final - of the FIFA World Under 20 championships this summer. That final game is expected to be watched by something like 750 million people on TV worldwide.

The event is being held at cities across Canada with the finals here in Toronto in the new BMO Field that Toronto FC will call home. This city goes totally insane during World Cup and even Euro Cup action. Half a million people hit the street celebrating various countries' wins during last year's World Cup, and it was a massive party two years earlier when Greece won the Euro Cup. But this very multicultural city has never really supported a local soccer team. Maybe this time it will.

Here are some picturs of the under construction BMO Field which is supposed to be ready for Toronto FC and the Under 20 World Cup. I've also posted a schedule of where and when games will be played during that tournament. Beckham's signing just adds to the positive buzz around soccer here in Toronto these days.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/martingroove/...322421317/show/

http://www.fifa.com/documents/tournaments/...Canada_2007.pdf

This is incredibly exciting, and a very good move by MLS (though I think the compensation is a bit excessive, but I guess they had to devise a blockbuster package to lure him to LA). The man in internationally known and renowned, and while his soccer skills are on the downswing, he still has a good 5-7 years in his legs if he doesn't get injured, plus he'll become the MLS's new posterboy, and I hope he'll also help to lift the overall skill level and play in the league. Another exciting aspect of his move across the ocean is that he might also serve as a magnet for other European League and international players who're interested in trying the MLS out. What if Zinedine Zidane came over? Sol Campbell? Some of the other English, Spanish, German, Italian, or other premiere league stars now in their early or mid 30s? Supposedly Ronaldo, who played as adeptly as a Zeppelin in the World Cup, is now interested as well. Becks has far more mobility and energy left, but Ronaldo still is a huge star, and will draw fans to games if he deigns to run down the field a few times. So the signing of Beckham was a brilliant move, and it's got me interested in once again watching MLS games, which I'd stopped doing a few years ago after being very enthusiastic about the league when it was initially founded.

MLS really has to come up with non-cheesy, thrilling advertising to capitalize on this coup. Make "Soccer is the New Sexy" the motto, and see where it goes!

Ehh Ronaldo's just getting old...he a type of position where you need a lot of energy and pace to really shine.

The difference between him and Beckham (at least if both were to play in MLS) is that yes, David Beckham has incredible star power and can hit a mean dead ball...but I honestly cannot see him having a HUGE impact. Maybe off set pieces (free kicks and corner kicks), but 250 million is an awful lot to pay for a dead ball specialst. Beckham will raise the level of play and the awareness of American soccer, but he's not the same superstar he was back in 1999-2001...

Ronaldo isn't the same superstar he was in 1998 and 2002, but on the other hand, his skills are more foreign to MLS defenders and coaches. Beckham's crossing and free kicks are fairly familiar to coaches- think of him as a more skilled, more expensive version of Houston's Brad Davis. But Ronaldo is a power forward, with enough pace and tricks left in his legs to take the league by storm. His style of play, with classy tricks (there's no doubt that his step-overs and cool finish against Ghana were one of the 2006 World Cup's great moments) and power, has no equal in MLS. Even considering his recent...weight issues...he's still got enough to scare more than a few of MLS's finest center defenders.

What I am trying to say is don't count Ronaldo out before he's set foot in MLS....

I agree with your reasoning metro, but have to admit that the USA fan-base does not always follow reason. Pro sports is at least as much about entertainment and American culture here as it is about the quality of the game. How else would someone like Terrell Owens or Eli Manning still have a job IMO? It is certainly not their irreplaceability on their teams.

Ronaldo would spark the interest of a lot of soccer moms and teen girls-after-teen-guys to add to the inevitable serious soccer dudes who would come for the show. And let's face it, the guy is a ham.

Becks largest compensation will be what he can make outside of soccer, with little or no sweat. Ronaldo would love that. And he could probably still run circles around most MLS players to boot - or at least inspire them to better play trying to match or defend against him.

And don't forget the immense Latino fan-base so important to this game, and growing in the USA. (And yes Portuguese are Latinos technically.) It is not just Argentinian immigrants who follow, either openly or surreptitiously, stars like b-baller Ginobilli. There is, and will continue to be, a lot of money on the side in that growing population, for Latin stars.

David Beckham is off to Hollywood. The former England Captain, has signed a five year deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy of the MLS worth $250 Million! For those of you keeping track, that's about one million dollars per week for the next five years...not bad for being a soccer player!

Now let's clarify this salary situation. He's actually being paid $10 Million per year for the next five years. The rest of the money comes from "profit sharing", jersey sales, and the same amount of sponsorship money that he's making right now in Madrid. It just all adds up to 250 Million.

Of course, Becks will be more than just a soccer player with the Galaxy. He's become an ambassador to the sport in North America, and will help build the popularity of both the MLS and the sport. Look no further than the non stop phone calls to Toronto FC headquarters, as fans scramble to get tickets for Beckham's one and only visit this upcoming season.

Beckham's move to the US should come as no surprise, as it's been talked about for ages. He's always said that he'd like to wrap up his career there, and I'm sure his wife will be happier on the West Coast and perhaps even ressurect her singing career. With that being said, the Beckhams hate the poparazzi...especially when it involves their kids...and their move to Hollywood will attract a ton of attention that could make life a bit miserable for the family.

I think this will be a good move for Beckham. He's been stuck in a downward spiral since Sir Alex Ferguson threw that boot at his head. Since then, he left his "dream home" of Manchester United, struggled in a star-studded squad at Real Madrid, and has found himself on the outside looking into the English National Team. So change will most certainly be good for David Beckham.

His style of play is suited for the English game, and he struggled to find his form in Spain. Couple that with all the all-stars and it's tough to hold down a regular starting job with the team. He'll head to the MLS where he'll be looked upon to provide some much needed leadership and experience among his teammates, and I'm sure he'll regain his confidence and form. I don't expect him to come in and absolutely dominate the league...but he'll definately stand out. Keep in mind that Beckham wasn't a goal scorer...he's a free kick specialist and a guy who can provide some stability in the midfield.

Now effective immediately, Beckham will no longer be able to play with Real Madrid. Despite his denials, there's no doubt that Fabio Capello isn't a fan of David Beckham. So while he says that "The decision of the player is to go to Los Angeles, he has always been a great professional, but a player who has such an important contract with another club, we cannot count on him. He is not going to play any more" I'm convinced that's just an excuse. Beckham wasn't playing anyways so this is just his way to kick a good player down when he's already down and out.

Sir Bobby Robson put it best when he said that Beckham is lacking motivation. Here's hoping that he regains it in a new environment and under different circumstances. I still feel he deserves a spot with the National Team, but his move to the US will almost certainly put an end to any hopes of a comeback.

I'm looking forward to the Beckham-era of the MLS, and combined with the debut of Toronto FC it should be an exciting spring/summer of soccer action in North America!

There was a story in the NY Daily News this weekend that says that Beckham is the next big Scientology recruit. One of the people Beckham called for advice was reportedly Couchjumper cruise.

That is very disturbing news but I've read Katie and Posh are rarely seen apart.

Hey Enigma. In fact there is no guarantee that Beckham will play a game in Toronto this year. LA will likely visit Toronto just once this year and that visit may be before Beckham's scheduled arrival on August 15. Although reports in today's paper say negotiatians are in place to allow Beckham to start earlier with LA. What is amazing though has been the fact that Toronto FC have sold over 2,600 SEASON tickets since the Beckham signing. So they now are up to 10,000 season tickets sold in the 20,000 new BMO Field with still 3 months left before their first game. That bodes very well for the team.

The MLS will ensure that the LA Galaxy play in Toronto with David Beckham in the lineup. There's no better way to gain publicity for an expansion team than with Beckham's appearance. So believe me, he will play in Toronto this year.

Hey Enigma - it seems you were right. The schedule released by the MLS has LA playing in Toronto on August 5. That is likely Beckham's first league game so it will undoubtedly be a media circus. By the way season ticket sales for Toronto FC have now topped 12,000 in the new 20,000 seat BMO stadium.

It looks like there will be no single game ticket sales for the Beckham visit to Toronto on August 5. Maple Leaf Sports - who own the Toronto FC are hinting that only season ticket holders and people who buy multi game packs will get a crack at that game - and they expect to sell it out that way. They have now sold over 12,500 season tickets. Those are people who have bought 20 games - the 15 league games + 5 'other' games - which can be anything from Toronto FC against touring international teams or possibly Canada's National team friendlies. Soon they will start offering some multi-game packs and they expect through those sales the LA Galaxy game will become a complete sell-out before they do any single game ticket sales.

Also season ticket holders are going to get the first crack at tickets for the World Cup Under 20 championshps.

The stadium is certainly taking shape. This updatee has a rather snowy shot of the new facility.
http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/news/team_new...p&team=t280

Smart business decision by MLSE. By not allowing single game tickets to be available for this game, you're forcing fans to come out to other games and in a sense, forcing the product on them which could -- and will -- create new fans of the game.

This may be a question answered in 2008 rather than this summer but how do you think Beckham will handle playing in a summer league instead of the regular winter? He'll start here in August and may get some "heat play" but next year it'll be a 3-month ordeal. I recall in Germany last summer the whole English national side were complaining about the heat and didn't Becks get sick on the pitch in one match? The LA Galaxy doesn't come back to Houston until October 7th but it is scheduled for 2PM. October is one of those swing months here. It could be a broiler or rather mild.