Beckham's MLS Debut Draws More Than 66,000 In N.Y.
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Beckham Helps Red Bulls Set Attendance
Record For Regular-Season MLS Game |
A crowd of 66,237 turned out for Galaxy-Red Bulls at the Meadowlands and watched David Beckham record two assists in a 5-4 loss, setting an attendance record for a regular-season MLS game in N.Y. The largest previous crowd was 56,404 on May 23, 1998, for MetroStars-Fusion. The NASL Cosmos drew 72,342 against the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers April 22, 1979 (Tripp Mickle, SportsBusiness Journal). In Newark, Jenny Vrentas wrote "only the upper rows of the upper deck were sparsely populated,” and the game was “staffed with the personnel needed for a regular-season football game.” The license plates in the parking lot “reflected the multi-state draw: in addition to New Jersey and New York were Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.” Red Bulls MF Clint Mathis: “I don’t think there’s anyone in this sport that can sell tickets the way [Beckham] can, plain and simple” (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 8/19). The Westchester JOURNAL NEWS’ Jake Thomases noted Beckham’s No. 23 jersey “outnumbered Red Bulls jerseys 5-to-1” (Westchester JOURNAL NEWS, 8/19). More than 100 media credentials were issued for the match, “five times more than normal” (New Jersey HERALD NEWS, 8/18).
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Red Bulls Now Facing Challenge
Of Keeping N.Y. Fans' Attention |
REAX: Galaxy coach Frank Yallop called the high-scoring game "a great advert for the game" of soccer. Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena added, “The public would certainly buy into it. [But] I think if you talk to Frank Yallop and I behind closed doors, we would tell you that we had a lot of breakdowns throughout the night" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/19). In L.A., Grahame Jones added MLS “finally has a game it can put in a time capsule and fire into the future for other generations to enjoy” (L.A. TIMES, 8/19). SI.com’s Grant Wahl: “If you’re trying to sell soccer to American fans it’s hard to imagine how things could have gone much better" (SI.com, 8/19). In N.Y., Michael Lewis wrote under the header, "Beck Yeah, What A Night For MLS!" Lewis: “For the first time in years, the stadium had an electric feeling for a stand-alone MLS game for the Red Bulls” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/19). The STAR-LEDGER's Steve Politi wrote the challenge for the Red Bulls is to convince fans that "they can count on a high-caliber event whenever they show up," even when Beckham is not in town (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 8/19).
ACTIVATION: Though partner activation is unusual before most Red Bulls games, several partners took advantage of the turnout by activating in the parking lot on Saturday. adidas rolled out a truck and interactive trailer that featured three flat screens on the exterior where fans could watch the Reggie Bush-David Beckham commercial. ICI Paints had an 8-by-8-foot tent offering styrofoam soccer balls to put on car antennas featuring the Glidden paint brand logo. Makita rolled out an 8-by-15-foot tent where the company displayed tools and offered people a chance to take a penalty kick into an inflatable goal. Kraft also had a presence, where the company gave away Ritz Crackers T-shirts (Mickle, SportsBusiness Journal).
NEW YORK, GOT THE WAYS AND MEANS? In N.Y., Filip Bondy wondered, “Why isn’t Beckham playing here for the Red Bulls?” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said, “L.A. got there faster. [N.Y.] has shown it’s willing to sign designated players, but L.A. needed someone to break through the clutter.” Bondy wrote the Red Bulls “still don’t believe they are yet ready for a Beckham-type star.” With the team not expected to open its new stadium until '09, Arena said, “I don’t think we have the kind of environment for a kind of player like that yet. The support, the facilities. Probably the only one in our league is L.A.” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/19).
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