David Beckham factor sees Qantas make soccer investment

03 November 2010 | Posted in Sponsorship, Soccer, Oceania | By Tom Love

Australia’s national airline, Qantas, has been announced as naming rights sponsor of an exhibition soccer match between A-League side Newcastle United Jets FC and Major League Soccer’s (MLS) LA Galaxy.

The match, which is the only fixture on the Galaxy's end-of-season tour, taking place on 27th November, will be known as the Qantas Challenge. The sponsorship deal is worth some US$300,000. The David Beckham factor is unquestionably important: Beckham must play at least 55 minutes of the eagerly anticipated friendly match.

Qantas is the major sponsor of the Australian national soccer team and the Australian national rugby union team. Jets executive chairman Ken Edwards stated the partnership was "confirmation that everything we are doing is at the right standard. Qantas is iconic, it is a great Australian company. For the Jets, Qantas and Galaxy to be in partnership together, it is certainly by far the most important relationship we have forged."

As part of the deal, Qantas will supply 35 return business airfares for the LA Galaxy and support staff. The Galaxy will spend four days in the Hunter and the match will be televised in the United States and most likely throughout Australia.

The visit of the American soccer team, which boasts one of soccer’s most marketable names in David Beckham, is expected to inject more than US$1 million into the Hunter economy.  

Edwards commented on Jodi McKay, minister for the Hunter region who helped broker the Qantas deal: “Jodi, in her capacity as Minister for Tourism and the Hunter, myself and (Qantas chief executive) Alan Joyce worked closely together on the details to get the deal done."

The Newcastle Jets were formed in 2000 after joining the National Soccer League (NSL) as Newcastle United and is one of only three former NSL clubs to appear in the A-League. The Jets finished 6th in the 2009-2010 A-League table.

Founded in 1995, the LA Galaxy are MLS’ second most decorated club. In January 2007, the Galaxy made international headlines by signing English superstar and former England captain David Beckham to a record deal.