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Beckham, Galaxy in possible farewell tour
Beckham to play three matches for LA Galaxy in Asia in what may be his last outings before a return to Europe
AP Published in Ahram Online on 29 - 11 - 2011

David Beckham will make what may be a farewell tour with the Los Angeles Galaxy over the coming week in a trio of Asian games that have spawned local discussion about ticket prices.
The Galaxy will play an Indonesian Select XI in Jakarta on Wednesday, followed by a meeting with the Philippines national team in Manila on 3 December, then a game against Australian club Melbourne Victory three days later.
Beckham is contractually obliged to play, and these may be his last appearances in a Galaxy jersey, with speculation about a move back to Europe.
The cost of tickets for the upcoming games had raised eyebrows in local markets, with fears they will be out of reach for poorer fans in Jakarta and Manila particularly.
The last time LA Galaxy toured Asia in 2008 the team was met with some disappointing attendance. In South Korea, only half of the 66,000 seats at Seoul World Cup Stadium were occupied, and four days later in Shanghai around only 10,000 fans bought tickets for the match.
Australia has been different however, with 80,000 fans turning out to watch the game against Sydney in 2007, while last year's game against Newcastle Jets was almost a sell out.
Indonesian organisers Mahaka Sports are hoping that sales for Wednesday's game will follow the Australia pattern, though there too, fans of host Melbourne Victory have criticised ticket prices that start at $60.
Reports in the Jakarta press claim that 40,000 of the 76,000 available tickets need to be sold to break even. Two days before kickoff, the company claimed that around 20,000 had been bought by fans.
Selling out the 13,000 capacity Rizal Stadium in Manila should be an easier task, although with the cheapest tickets available at $45, similar in price to the most expensive tickets at a recent 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kuwait, there is no guarantee the arena will be full.
The visit of the former England captain is a boost to the sport in the Philippines, where the national team is lowly ranked and other sports command more attention.
“David Beckham is a crowd-puller and for him to come here is a big thing and people are excited to see him here,” said Nonong Araneta, president of the Philippine Football Association. “It is not only good for football but for the country, bringing a celebrity is good for the image of the Philippines.”
In Melbourne, the game is being billed as a belated clash between new Victory signing Harry Kewell and Beckham. The two were among the biggest stars in the English Premier League when their respective clubs, Leeds United and Manchester United, were fighting for major titles in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

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