MJMANDALAY
02-06-2007, 02:50 PM
David Beckham to hit every MLS market
NEW YORK - David Beckham will visit every Major League Soccer city after his U.S. arrival in mid-July, and television viewers will see lots of him.
The former England captain likely will make his MLS debut Aug. 5 at Toronto, according to the MLS schedule released Tuesday. But he could don his Galaxy shirt for the first time in late July when Los Angeles plays in the SuperLiga, an eight-team exhibition event between MLS and Mexican clubs.
The Galaxy play Mexico's Chivas on July 24 at home, against Pachuca on July 28 and travel three days later to play at FC Dallas, the only MLS team that will not see Beckham during the regular season.
Sixteen of the Los Angeles Galaxy's final 17 games are scheduled to be broadcast nationally.
"Adjustments were made to maximize David Beckham joining Galaxy in mid-July," said Dan Courtemanche, MLS' senior vice president of communications and marketing. "There was no major upheaval to ensure every team will have the Galaxy at home after mid-July."
The Galaxy begin a four-game East coast road trip with the Aug. 5 game in Toronto, followed by games at D.C. United on Aug. 9, the New England Revolution on Aug. 12 and the New York Red Bulls on Aug. 18.
Beckham announced his transfer to the Galaxy in January, saying he would move to the United States when his contract with Real Madrid expires June 30. The U.S. transfer window doesn't close until April 15, however, leaving open the possibility that Beckham could arrive earlier if he parted ways with Real Madrid before his contract expires.
After Beckham's scheduled arrival, only the Galaxy's Aug. 5 game won't be televised nationally on one of MLS' four national outlets: ESPN2, Fox Soccer Channel, HDNet and the Univision Spanish-language channels.
Each of the league's 195 games will be broadcast at least regionally — a league first, and 113 will be televised nationally — most in league history. The season opens April 7.
NEW YORK - David Beckham will visit every Major League Soccer city after his U.S. arrival in mid-July, and television viewers will see lots of him.
The former England captain likely will make his MLS debut Aug. 5 at Toronto, according to the MLS schedule released Tuesday. But he could don his Galaxy shirt for the first time in late July when Los Angeles plays in the SuperLiga, an eight-team exhibition event between MLS and Mexican clubs.
The Galaxy play Mexico's Chivas on July 24 at home, against Pachuca on July 28 and travel three days later to play at FC Dallas, the only MLS team that will not see Beckham during the regular season.
Sixteen of the Los Angeles Galaxy's final 17 games are scheduled to be broadcast nationally.
"Adjustments were made to maximize David Beckham joining Galaxy in mid-July," said Dan Courtemanche, MLS' senior vice president of communications and marketing. "There was no major upheaval to ensure every team will have the Galaxy at home after mid-July."
The Galaxy begin a four-game East coast road trip with the Aug. 5 game in Toronto, followed by games at D.C. United on Aug. 9, the New England Revolution on Aug. 12 and the New York Red Bulls on Aug. 18.
Beckham announced his transfer to the Galaxy in January, saying he would move to the United States when his contract with Real Madrid expires June 30. The U.S. transfer window doesn't close until April 15, however, leaving open the possibility that Beckham could arrive earlier if he parted ways with Real Madrid before his contract expires.
After Beckham's scheduled arrival, only the Galaxy's Aug. 5 game won't be televised nationally on one of MLS' four national outlets: ESPN2, Fox Soccer Channel, HDNet and the Univision Spanish-language channels.
Each of the league's 195 games will be broadcast at least regionally — a league first, and 113 will be televised nationally — most in league history. The season opens April 7.