Beckham to Edmonton - Whitecaps v. Galaxy

[fishman]

Bend it for Edmonton

Beckham, Galaxy to play at Commonwealth Stadium this spring
Vicki Hall and Dan Barnes, The Edmonton Journal
Published: 1:31 am

VANCOUVER - A Google search on soccer superstar David Beckham pulls up 11,800,000 hits and counting ...

Those hits should continue to soar like a booming corner kick this morning with the news that Beckham will play at Commonwealth Stadium this spring.

The world's most recognizable soccer player -- and, arguably, the most famous athlete on the planet behind only Tiger Woods -- will lace up his boots in Edmonton for a friendly match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Sources tell The Journal the exact date for the game has yet to be finalized, but initial plans call for it to take place in late April or early May. The date is expected to be confirmed next week.

Beckham gained fame as a dominant midfielder for the England national team and Manchester United of the Premier League.

At 32, his best soccer years are behind him, but his popularity remains unparalleled.

Forbes magazine listed Beckham as No. 15 on their 2007 list of the world's most influential celebrities.

"It's an event," said a source familiar with the negotiations aimed at bringing the Galaxy to Edmonton. "It's a one-off and he is one of the top five most recognized athletes in the world and he's a class act, a great ambassador for the sport."

A similar game in Vancouver last November attracted a crowd of 48,172 to B.C. Place Stadium. Organizers apparently sold tickets only to the lower bowl until the demand forced them to open up the upper tier.

A high percentage of the fans were women, not surprising given Beckham's sporty good looks.

The Whitecaps, who play in the United Soccer League, and the Galaxy of Major League Soccer ended the game deadlocked in a scoreless tie.

A source said the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League are involved in the promotion of the game.

There's no word on whether Beckham will be accompanied by his wife Victoria, also known as Posh Spice from the Spice Girls pop group.

A 1994 tune-up match between Canada and Brazil just prior to the World Cup in the U.S. drew about 50,000 fans to Commonwealth Stadium. Eddie Berlusconi became a Canadian soccer hero that day, scoring the 1-1 equalizer.

The final game of the women's Under-19 world championship in 2002, featuring Canada and the U.S., drew a raucous crowd of 47,484 to Commonwealth. Canada lost a heartbreaker and settled for the silver medal.

[Blue and White Army]

What about the Aviators?

[Blue and White Army]

What about the Aviators?

[Krammerhead]

quote:Originally posted by Blue and White Army

What about the Aviators?

Whitecaps are going to move to Edmonton because they can't get a new stadium built, and will change their name to Edmonton Aviators. StrobeZ will be hired to design their new logo.

[piltdownman]

This game is going to be sweet, I'm going to have to 'schedule a meeting at the Edmonton Office'

[Canucks fan]

If it's someone or some group from Edmonton trying to bring in Beckham and the Galaxy for a game and they are simply inviting the Whitecaps because they're the closest team geographically, I think it's a great idea.

However if it's the Whitecaps organization who are the main organizers/the ones behind this, I'd much rather see them bring high profile exhibition games to Vancouver (not necessarily Becks and L.A. again but other teams) rather than cities in another province. Although I guess when you dont have a large outdoor stadium thats kind of hard to do.....

[loyola]

Who's Eddie Berlusconi???

[Cooks]

Yah, I laughed at that, too! Eddy Berdusco must be choked right now (or Silvio is)

[tmcmurph]

"schedule a meeting at the Edmonton Office"

I'll be attending the Big Rock conference at Commonwealth Stadium. I was thinking of sneaking out to the coast for a Whitecaps game but this is just a 3 hour drive.

Wonderful what you can get with a real grass playing surface and 60,000 seat stadium. The Alberta Whitecaps... has a nice ring to it!

[8D]

[Richard]

Where on earth does one find 'whitecaps' in the barren prairies