Our Galaxy Guys Will Head to New Zealand

By: Laurie | September 19th, 2007

Because sucking in three countries isn’t enough.

The original list of countries where the Galaxy will ~~suck~~ ply their trade this year: US (all over), Canada (Vancouver in October,) and Australia (Sydney in November.) To this we will add New Zealand in December.

The Galaxy have signed on to play Wellington Phoenix in Wellington, NZ on December 2, but it’s only a go if Beckham is healthy. It’s part of the contract: No Beckham, no game. Or rather, if Beckham is injured, the game will be rescheduled for a time when he is healthy. (Not sure how the contract works if he dies of old age before this happens.)

This game has actually been fairly controversial in New Zealand. The match won’t be cheap to put on — I’ve read estimates between $900,000 and $1.1 million — and those will be taxpayer funds. And some of those taxpayers are NOT happy about it. This means that the politicians are promising a hefty return on investment to come from the tourists who will be flocking to the city to see the Galaxy’s scoring machine work its miracles, just like they’ve done in MLS this season.

Hence the Beckham clause.

Do you blame them?

(No word on what the other guys get paid for this little jaunt. Hopefully a lot. But I doubt it.)

Some Related Galaxy Posts:

Category: International Games and Issues

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Diane

Does Beckham make a bonus for this? I thought the Galaxy, or whatever exhibition team, makes the money from these matches and doing them is part of the players' contracts. At least for the European teams. I'm pretty sure they're already in Beckham's contract. Hopefully the rest of the team will get some extra cash if they're not already obligated.
mel

Maybey the rest of the team gets paid in vegemite sandwiches.