David Beckham’s US football team has sold 700 times the number of soccer tops than normal since the England ace signed for the side.
Los Angeles Galaxy say they have sold more than 300,000 jerseys emblazoned with Beckham’s name.
Don Garber, the commissioner of Major League Soccer – America’s top league – said the ‘Beckham effect’ had been even more important than first thought.
He said: “We have sold more than 300,000 Beckham Los Angeles Galaxy jerseys, which was 700 times the number of Galaxy jerseys sold in 2006.
“Merchandise sales over all have gone up two or three times.
“International TV sales have gone up from next to nothing to distribution in 100 countries, with live games in Asia and Mexico.”
He added: “Without doubt, M.L.S. has more global awareness than at any other time in our history and has more legitimacy in the United States because of David. Every measure of our business has grown because of him.
“But the real value we’ve yet to realize is the impact David will have on the field. He’s been injured, but we look forward to him having another first year in M.L.S. in 2008.”
Beckham, 32, signed for the Galaxy in July in a deal reportedly worth $250 million USD. But he has barely played for them after he injured his right knee in a SuperLiga final against Pachuca in August
And while Gerber said the impact of Beckham had been huge, he said the M.L.S had signed other high-profile players as well. He told the New York Times: “But please don’t forget that we signed 25 players from Argentina, Brazil and Colombia.
“They are all young, crafty, stylish, and that has allowed us to connect with a community of 40 million Hispanics in the United States.
“The Mexican player Cuauhtemoc Blanco is to 40 million Hispanics what Beckham is to the rest of the world.”
Thanks to players like David Beckham in Los Angeles, Cuauhtemoc Blanco in Chicago and Juan Pablo Angel in New York, Gerber said M.L.S. teams had an average attendance of 16,770 in 2007, up from an average of 15,509 in 2006.
He added: “Over all, this sport has a real foundation that allows us to have a league that David Beckham wants to play in. And that’s only the beginning.”
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