The Newcastle Jets have completed a major coup for the club, by securing football superstar David Beckham and his LA Galaxy team for a friendly match in the Hunter region next month.
The Jets will host the Galaxy at their home ground EnergyAustralia Stadium, on Saturday, November 27.
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally made the announcement on Wednesday alongside the Minister for the Hunter and MP for Newcastle Jodi McKay, Jets chairman Ken Edwards and A-League boss Lyall Gorman.
Beckham drew a massive crowd of more than 80,000 when the Galaxy played a friendly against Sydney FC at Stadium Australia almost three years ago and the interest in the game in Newcastle would be expected to create a similar sort of frenzy.
The match, which will no doubt attract a sell-out crowd of more than 23,000 fans, caps off an astonishing recovery for the club over the last few weeks since new owner Nathan Tinkler took control.
In a few short weeks Tinkler has made monumental changes at the club which are designed to reconnect with the broader Newcastle football community.
The match is expected to bring more than $1 million to the local economy.
Jets executive chairman Ken Edwards admitted it was a brilliant coup by the club.
“Jodi, together with the Jets, have worked very hard over the past 72 hours to ensure this exhibition match happens for the people of the Hunter,” he said.
“On behalf of the Jets I thank the NSW Government sincerely for their financial support and the great personal support provided by Jodi to get this deal over the line.”
