January 16, 2007 Toronto FC says 10,000 already sold for debut season (from Toronto Star)

Season tickets going fast

Toronto FC says 10,000 already sold for debut season

January 16, 2007
Toronto FC's first home game is still months away but there's already plenty to celebrate at the box office.

The expansion franchise said it had sold more than 10,000 season tickets as of yesterday, with an assist to the tune of 2,600 tickets from the news that David Beckham will join the Los Angeles Galaxy.

"Before the David Beckham announcement we were doing real well," said Tom Anselmi, the chief operating officer of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. "Obviously, these last couple days it's been a real shot in the arm."

The sales mean half the seats at 20,000-seat BMO Field have been spoken for even though there is no guarantee that Beckham will play here this summer.

European media reported Beckham's lawyers were trying to terminate his contract with Spanish club Real Madrid. But Beckham's spokesman told the Associated Press the star intends to fulfill his contract, which is set to end in June.

It is not yet known when the Galaxy will play in Toronto but Anselmi said he expects the Major League Soccer schedule will be released within two weeks.

Meanwhile, construction of BMO Field at Exhibition Place is about "80 per cent" done and on schedule, said Anselmi. The turf will be laid in March, ahead of FC's home opener against the Kansas City Wizards April 28.

MATTHEW CHUNG

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