Beckham - does anyone care?

I couldn't care less. But I do care that I will have to change channels faster now when every station has stories about this has-been and his blowup pipe-cleaner doll wife.

It's kind of funny how scared most people on here are about MLS maybe passing the NHL in popularity in southern California.

If the Galaxy are a more successful team because of Beckham, great for them. I probably will still only watch a game or two, just because soccer isn't something I look forward to.

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Originally Posted by redxalonso

If Americans don't care about soccer, then why was the Rose Bowl sold out for the Womens World Cup a few years ago?

Just because it's never happened doesn't mean it's not going to happen. I think the Beckham interest will eventually die down, but Beckham in America IMO is going to make a difference in soccer in America in the long run.

Think Gretzky's influence of hockey in L.A and the southern belt of America. It's naive to say it "definitely" won't happen with Beckham and soccer in America.

It's little buck tooth kids from the rest of the world who are buying Beckham jerseys, not just English kids. It's the trendy tourists from the rest of America and the rest of the world, stopping by Los Angeles that are also going to buy Beckham's Galaxy jerseys.

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Originally Posted by 33isgod

The Galaxy made 14 million dollars in ticket sales and other revenue in just a couple months after Beckham announced his signing in November. And to think he hasn't even played a single game in the MLS yet. And they could surely use him considering the team has only won 3 out of 12 games this year.

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Flavor of the Week boys. Years from now this will be but a blip on the screen. Sure there will be an initial push but it simply won't sustain itself.

Listen, we will gladly take Posh and Becks if you just go ahead and keep Madonna over there in England.
The Beckhams are young and pretty and don't really have a whole lot to say.
What's not to like?

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Originally Posted by redxalonso

If Americans don't care about soccer, then why was the Rose Bowl sold out for the Womens World Cup a few years ago?

Just because it's never happened doesn't mean it's not going to happen. I think the Beckham interest will eventually die down, but Beckham in America IMO is going to make a difference in soccer in America in the long run.

Think Gretzky's influence of hockey in L.A and the southern belt of America. It's naive to say it "definitely" won't happen with Beckham and soccer in America.

It's little buck tooth kids from the rest of the world who are buying Beckham jerseys, not just English kids. It's the trendy tourists from the rest of America and the rest of the world, stopping by Los Angeles that are also going to buy Beckham's Galaxy jerseys.

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Also, ManU sold out the Coloseum a couple of years ago when they played here, so there is a market for "good" soccer.
The unfortunate thing is that the MLS is no where near the level of the Premiership in England. I will be there on the 12th to see a real team (Chelsea) play the Galaxy!
I think I heard every Galaxy game is sold out for the remainder of the season, home and away, so he is having an immediate effect on the game. The question is will the excitement hold on, and will it open doors for other starts to leave England for the US?

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Originally Posted by Fielddog

and will it open doors for other starts to leave England for the US?

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Xavier and Angel weren't really stars, but they were recognizable names.

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Originally Posted by Fielddog

Also, ManU sold out the Coloseum a couple of years ago when they played here, so there is a market for "good" soccer.
The unfortunate thing is that the MLS is no where near the level of the Premiership in England. I will be there on the 12th to see a real team (Chelsea) play the Galaxy!

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I have to agree with Alexi a little on this. While MLS is absolutely nowhere near Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, I believe that a top MLS team could play some of the mid-low EPL teams fairly effectively. Remember Fulham (I think it was them) came over a few years ago for an MLS friendly tour and only went .500. American soccer is getting better, maybe in a decade or two the top teams will be able to make a mark on the world stage.

I also agree that there is definately a market for 'good' in any sport here, be it soccer, football or anything else. American fans won't support a loser. As long as the ownership is makeing a good faith attempt to get better (I'm looking at you LA Kings Management), the fans will generally support them

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Originally Posted by TONGA

It's only soccer... no one in North America cares.

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Like they care about hockey?

I couldn't care less. And according to the ESPN.com poll, I'm easily in the majority:

How would you describe your interest level in David Beckham's arrival to the US?

55% - Don't care
26% - Intrigued
14% - Excited
5 % - Annoyed

Even within California, only a handful more are in the "intrigued" or "excited" categories rather than the "don't care."

Soccer has its fan base in California and the rest of the country. They're no doubt having some emotional response to Becks' arrival. But will he cause a dramatic increase in the number of soccer fans? Doubtful.

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Originally Posted by TONGA

Like they matter... nothing south of LA is North America, not really anyway.

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Make that south of I-8 ... don't go lumping all of San Diego into that group.