Soccer star David Beckham will be required to play at least 55 minutes against Wellington Phoenix in a $1.3 million deal, sources say.
Confirming New Zealand sport’s worst kept secret, the deal hinges on an assurance Beckham will take the field for his Los Angeles Galaxy’s game at Westpac Stadium on December 2.
The deal – subsidised by Wellington ratepayers – equates to $23,636 for each minute the former England captain graces the Westpac Stadium turf.
Wellington City Council had agreed to partly fund the fixture but is refusing to say how much of its $1.5 million events development fund had been committed.
Councillor John Morrison, Mayor Kerry Prendergast, council chief executive Garry Poole, and Positively Wellington Tourism chairwoman Glenys Coughlan were on a council sub-committee that approved the funding.
Mr Morrison said a guarantee that Beckham would play in the match was a vital factor for funding. “It is (for) a minimum of 55 minutes, and hopefully the whole game,” he said yesterday.
The development fund is financed through commercial rates and would be used to promote the game outside Wellington.
The council needs to attract at least 40 per cent of the crowd from outside the region so it can meet its target of generating $20 for every dollar it spends on event promotion. “It needs to attract a 30,000-plus crowd,” Mr Morrison said.
Phoenix’s owner, millionaire property developer Terry Serepisos, refused to comment yesterday.
Beckham, 32, who previously played for Manchester United and Real Madrid, could remain in Wellington for up to four days with his Galaxy teammates.
He is sidelined by a knee injury till at least mid-October an is also due to play in Sydney, with some conjecture whether he will or not!
Report by The Mole from The Dominion Post
