Beckham has improved the profile of the club.
For every excited American awaiting his arrival in
California, there was a critic ready to denounce the move. Yet the
Beckham effect has not only improved the profile of the club, but
also put the midfielder back in the England fold, a member of the
'Century Club’ now that he has passed 100 caps.
On the field, Beckham has become a one-man show, responsible for
the Galaxy averaging a league-best 25,513 at home and a league-high
27,094 on the road this year. The Galaxy website could not be
accused of understating Beckham, describing him as “one of the
world’s most recognisable people”.
New York Red Bulls had a crowd of 46,754 for the visit of the
Galaxy on Saturday. Usually around 10,000 watch their home games.
The 66,237 – an MLS record – who went to Giants Stadium last August
to see Beckham and the Galaxy was more than for their five previous
home MLS games put together.
Indeed, every away match the Galaxy have played this season has
seen the home team’s best attendance. Tim Leiweke, chief executive
of Anschutz Entertainment Group who own the Galaxy, asked: “How can
you not pay attention to the impact this guy is creating?”
Off the field, Beckham is smiling, autograph-friendly and happy
to speak to the media whenever he is asked, while he and his wife,
Victoria, fit comfortably into the LA image and lifestyle. Ivan
Gazidis, the deputy commissioner of MLS, said: “I don’t think any
player could have had the impact with the general public that David
Beckham has had.”
Beckham’s five goals and seven assists have helped Galaxy to
second place in the Western Division, one point behind Real Salt
Lake.
Beckham remains modest, satisfied with the manner in which he
has settled. “I think we’ve moved the needle slightly,” he said. “I
said when I first moved here that it’s not going to take a year or
two. It will take five or maybe 10 years to make this league grow
to a much higher level.
“You see many families turn up with their young kids and watch
the Galaxy playing. In 10 years those kids are going to be 15 and
16 years old, turning around and saying 'I remember when we saw the
Galaxy play’.
“It might take that long, but hopefully we’ve made the footprint
that obviously takes it further on.”
