[chris]

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David Beckham is coming to LA to play in the MLS. Over the next 5 years he will earn $250,000,000.00!!!

[DWilliams7926]

sorry Chris, I must have posted at the exact same time

[d_alex_d]

If only I tried a little harder as a kid

[cferneyh]

I think they must have put too many zeroes in that article. That's just friggin crazy. I know nothing about soccer, and even less about the MLS, but I refuse to believe that the entire league - let alone one franchise - brings in enough coin to pay that kind of salary to one player. They must be getting a cut of his endorsements or something.

[chris]

I think they must have put too many zeroes in that article. That's just friggin crazy. I know nothing about soccer, and even less about the MLS, but I refuse to believe that the entire league - let alone one franchise - brings in enough coin to pay that kind of salary to one player. They must be getting a cut of his endorsements or something.

We were discussing the same thing here at my office; Could any team in any league afford that?

[tommygunn]

"David Beckham will have a greater impact on soccer in America than any athlete has ever had on a sport globally," said Timothy J. Leiweke, president & CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the Galaxy. "David is truly the only individual that can build the bridge between soccer in America and the rest of the world."

Probably the same impact as Pele coming to New York and playin' for the Cosmos... :roll:

[DWilliams7926]

the only team that comes to mind is Chelsea that could afford it

[emperor penguin]

"David Beckham will have a greater impact on soccer in America than any athlete has ever had on a sport globally," said Timothy J. Leiweke, president & CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the Galaxy. "David is truly the only individual that can build the bridge between soccer in America and the rest of the world."

Probably the same impact as Pele coming to New York and playin' for the Cosmos... :roll:

thats what I was thinking, I think they think he's gonna have the same impact as that, but I don't really see soccer getting that huge in America. I really can't see Soccer bumping out Football, Nascar and Baseball in popularity in the U.S. And for a guy like Beckam who is highly overrated and past his prime, thats is way too much money. The English national team doesn't even want him anymore.

[john cage]

From what I hear, the league is not going to pay $250M over 5 years. That is probably the amount Beckham could potentially earn given personal appearances, endorsements, rights fees, and the like. His salary will be more along the lines of $9M per year.

Heck, DC United recently sold for $30M.

Next to jump the pond: Ronaldo to Red Bull NY (formerly the MetroShite).

[Zenith]

"David Beckham will have a greater impact on soccer in America than any athlete has ever had on a sport globally," said Timothy J. Leiweke, president & CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the Galaxy. "David is truly the only individual that can build the bridge between soccer in America and the rest of the world."

Probably the same impact as Pele coming to New York and playin' for the Cosmos... :roll:

thats what I was thinking, I think they think he's gonna have the same impact as that, but I don't really see soccer getting that huge in America. I really can't see Soccer bumping out Football, Nascar and Baseball in popularity in the U.S. And for a guy like Beckam who is highly overrated and past his prime, thats is way too much money. The English national team doesn't even want him anymore.

Spot on. I can't believe that a team like LA Galaxy have shelled out so much for him. Like you say, I can't see him improving the ticket sales for them by that much... or at least not enough to warrent that sort of money.

He is still talented, but he is passed his prime. He was awful in the World Cup - he might as well have not been there. This whole move is very reminiscent of Gary Lineker going to Japan to end his career out there.

It'll be interesting to see how this all pans out though.

[GBV]

From what I hear, the league is not going to pay $250M over 5 years. That is probably the amount Beckham could potentially earn given personal appearances, endorsements, rights fees, and the like. His salary will be more along the lines of $9M per year.

Heck, DC United recently sold for $30M.

Next to jump the pond: Ronaldo to Red Bull NY (formerly the MetroShite).

yah the sum apparently includes a truckload of endorsement deals etc. it's not "just" for playing footie.

toronto fc sold 300 season tickets yesterday after the news. unreal.
(i'm already a season ticket holder :thumb

what's getting lost in the news is that beckham is under contract until the summer...he won't be hitting the mls 'til august-ish...and the season starts in april.

i don't think he was ever "one of the greatest players in the world," but his celeb/ticket selling status cannot be denied.
i think that he's not pele-like is a good thing, though...last thing mls needs is teams feeling they can't compete now and opening the purses for other "names," and then feeling the sting in five years.
i hear dallas is negotiating with davidz though.

[grimes]

Apparently the annual breakdown of the deal is like this:
Salary - $10 million
Share in team profits - up to $10 million
Merchandise revenue - up to $10 million
Endorsements - $20 to $25 million

So he's not guaranteed to make $50 million a season, but depending on team profits and merchandising sales he has the potential to.

[chris]

If he does make $50 mill, that's about $1.60 per second!

[cferneyh]

Apparently the annual breakdown of the deal is like this:
Salary - $10 million
Share in team profits - up to $10 million
Merchandise revenue - up to $10 million
Endorsements - $20 to $25 million

So he's not guaranteed to make $50 million a season, but depending on team profits and merchandising sales he has the potential to.

I'm thinking that paying one guy $10 million is going to cut into team profits rather significantly.

[Douglas]

The Riders should have signed him to punt. Might have had some salary cap issues though.