THE CANADIAN PRESS
EDMONTON — David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy are coming to Edmonton in May to settle some unfinished business with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The two teams, who played to a scoreless draw last November in Vancouver, will meet again at Commonwealth Stadium in another friendly match on May 13th.
Beckham is contracted to play at least 45 minutes and, if history is a judge, will play more, Whitecaps general manager Bob Lenarduzzi told a news conference at Commonwealth on Wednesday.
"People talk about Beckham and the fact that he’s coming here at the twilight of his career," he said. "Well, David Beckham was never a player who was going to dribble by three, four or five players.
"David Beckham’s expertise is, as the movie would suggest, bend it like Beckham. In dead ball situations, he can bend it like no one else can."
Lenarduzzi said there is no better way to grow soccer in Canada than a match between two of the storied franchises on the continent.
"What we’d like to do is establish an annual game that would take place here," he said. "It’s a wonderful venue. It’s the only venue that is grass."
Beckham, the 32-year-old former midfielder for the English national team and for Manchester United of the English Premier League, has become an international star and heart-throb-celebrity along with his wife Victoria, known as Posh Spice from the pop group Spice Girls.
Lenarduzzi said it’s not believed Victoria will be coming to the Alberta capital.
Galaxy forward Landon Donovan and striker Carlos Ruiz will also be in the lineup for the 7 p.m. friendly match. Veterans like Martin Nash, Jeff Clarke and Steve Kindel will suit up for the Whitecaps.
Tickets will range from $25 to $85 and only seats in the 25,000-seat lower bowl will go on sale, said Lenarduzzi. If more tickets are wanted, they may open up the upper tier in the 60,000-seat facility.
The two teams met on Nov. 7 at B.C. Place in front of 48,172 fans at B.C. Place. Demand for tickets eventually prompted organizers to open the upper levels.
Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas, who spoke by phone at the news conference, said: "The Galaxy is a team that is looking for unique opportunities, especially international ones."
He said the Commonwealth grass surface was key: "It’s an important thing when you have a player like David Beckham, like Landon Donovan, like Carlos Ruiz."
Most of the players have never been to Edmonton, but Lalas said Beckham’s track record has been to step up in new locales.
"He looks at every time he steps on the field, especially at a new place, as an opportunity to prove himself and live up to some lofty expectations."
.The CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos, the main tenant at Commonwealth, will help organize the event.
Edmonton is no stranger to hosting soccer.
There were 50,000 fans at Commonwealth at a 1994 tune-up match between Canada and Brazil just prior to the World Cup. More than 47,000 came to women’s under-19 world championship in 2002.
Beckham — whose resume includes three FIFA World Cups and 17 goals in 99 appearances for his home country — is listed at No. 15 on Forbes magazine’s 2007 list of the world’s most influential celebrities.
The Galaxy spent a reported US$250 million to get him after his contract finished with Real Madrid.
"He has been a solid business investment," said Lalas.
"The fact we have these opportunities not just in Edmonton, but to take our team on tour around the world is directly related to his involvement."
Beckham is hoping for a breakout year with the Galaxy after a disappointing inaugural season in 2007.
He was hobbled first by a sprained ankle, then a sprained right knee and played in just eight Major League Soccer games. He had one goal and three assists. The Galaxy missed the playoffs.