With Beckham train derailed, fare stays same

Those MLS fans who already purchased tickets to ride the Beckham train when it rolled into their home station are being told that despite its recent derailment, the fare will remain the same.

According to a recent AP article, Real Salt Lake will follow suite with the rest of MLS when it comes to their Sept. 19 showdown with the Beckham-less Galaxy. Spice Boy is essential out for the season after sustaining a knee injury in the first half of Los Angeles' shootout loss in the SuperLiga final. There is some talk that he may be back for the Galaxy's final few matches (and anyone thinking that those matches will be in the playoffs is delusional).

RSL spokesman John Koluder summed it up succintly, "This will be our highest-attended game. We will not be offering refunds."

Most ticket prices for matches including Beckham were marked up between $5 to $10 extra for lower level seating, and many ticket packages were built and sold around the English gimp's visit. But what to do now when the main attraction will be reduced to benchwarmer (or maybe worse, luxury-box spectator).

Of course the answer is simple for MLS execs, do nothing and collect the extra cash. After all, the fans should have known that this was a possibility. No one can predict injuries (or I would have won every fantasy sports league I ever entered). Still, many of these ticket buyers are not MLS-fans, at least not yet. They are David Beckham fans. I agree that refunding the money entirely would be a stupid move, but perhaps MLS should consider refunding the difference in ticket price. Or maybe they could just send a coupon for a free beer or soda (which at current concession prices would be equivalent to the difference anyhow).

Why bother? Well, a gesture like this to the Beckham fans might take the sting out of missing a chance to see their favorite player and would hopefully put them in a better frame of mind to watch and enjoy the 22 players that are able to play. And it would surely cut down on the disgruntled, sign waving douchebags.

At the very least, if MLS went the coupon route, LA could throw a Beckham jersey on Peter Vagenas and the Sir Spicy fans might be to drunk to notice the difference.