Beckham’s Impact: L.A. Galaxy to Add Ticket Operations Director

By Alfred Branch, Jr.

Less than two months after the announced signing of superstar midfielder David Beckham, the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team is looking to hire a director of ticket operations.

The person in the newly created position will help coordinate the handling of the expected surge in ticket sales since the January signing of the 31-year-old Beckham. According to published reports, the Galaxy sold more than 5,000 season tickets in the week after the signing, unofficially one of the fastest buying periods in the team’s history. The Major League Soccer (MLS) team plays its home games at the 27,000-seat Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.

“This position supervises the department’s box office, including primary involvement with ticketed events for the Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center,” reads the advertisement for the position. Galaxy officials did not respond to repeated requests to comment for this story.

The team, winner of the 2005 MLS Cup championship, already has a manager of ticket operations and a coordinator of ticket operations, but they will report to the new director. As listed on the Galaxy’s website, LAGalaxy.com, the director’s responsibilities include:
• Responsible for the overall management of the day-to-day operations of the ticket office
• Management of game day operations for home events
• Supervise deposits and perform revenue reconciliation
• Prepare financial reports and audits of revenue for management review
• Staff supervision
• Box office event coordination
• Ticket sales accounting
• General oversight of ticketing contract services
• Providing ticketing reports as requested by Major League Soccer and LA Galaxy/AEG management
• Implementing all policies and procedures for the department
• Prepare monthly sales commission report
• Assist with sponsorship ticket fulfillment
• Other duties as assigned by LA Galaxy/AEG Management

Salary information was not available, nor was there a date for when the team hopes to have the position filled, but it listed the following as minimum requirements for the job:
• A minimum of five (5) years sales experience in ticket operations or other athletic administration capacity
• A minimum of three (3) years experience with computerized ticketing systems including Archtics and Ticketmaster
• Demonstrated leadership skills and qualities
• Provide financial accountability

Beckham, who still has to honor his current contract with Real Madrid, is expected to join the Galaxy in August, just under the halfway point of the season. Of the Galaxy’s final 18 games, seven are home. Cognizant of Beckham’s ability to draw fans, MLS officials have him playing road games in each of the league’s 11 other cities. The Chivas USA team plays its home game at the Home Depot Center, too, so Beckham will be in front of Los Angeles fans a total of eight times.

Beckham is an international endorsement machine and sex symbol, and with his wife Victoria, a former Spice Girl, they are burgeoning media personalities in the U.S. The Galaxy signed the soccer player to a five-year, $250 million contract that includes money he will receive in salary and endorsements.