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The huge cost of the LA Galaxy's visit to Auckland last year has been revealed. The Auckland Regional Council on Thursday admitted losing nearly $1.8 million on the unsuccessful event.
David Beckham and his soccer team the LA Galaxy were flown in to play an Oceania All Stars team, but a pitiful crowd turn out meant the Auckland Regional Council took in less than half the revenue needed to cover their costs.
The ARC describes the loss as a "disaster" but ratepayers won't have to foot the bill, it'll be ring-fenced as a trading loss for the council owned Mt Smart stadium.
"At the end of the day, we simply did not sell enough tickets," says ARC Chief Executive Peter Winder.
He says that came down to the fact that ticket prices were too high, that marketing did not achieve what it should have and that there was also significant competition by other events.
"The LA Galaxy event was pursued with the best of intentions. A key objective was to bring a successful international event to Auckland. However, it has been a commercial failure. I am determined that this will not happen again," he says.
But the ARC say Beckham generated international media attention
that would have benefited Auckland.
The Auditor General is conducting an independent review into the
ARC's handling of the event.
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