The Beckham effect

David Beckham
Soccer superstar David Beckham has a date in Minneapolis in October, when his team, the LA Galaxy, plays in an exhibition game at the Metrodome.
Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Tickets are going fast for what could be Minnesota's biggest soccer event since Pele's visit 30 years ago.

Superstar David Beckham and the LA Galaxy are scheduled to play an exhibition game at the Metrodome this October. Tickets went on sale Tuesday at 4 p.m., and organizers hope some 60,000 fans will attend.

Beckham is arguably the world's most famous athlete right now. He made headlines earlier this year when decided to leave the Real Madrid soccer team and signed with the LA Galaxy, an American Major League Soccer team.

The Oct. 10 event -- dubbed the Copa Minnesota --is being put on by the Minnesota Thunder, the state's professional men's soccer team. The game will feature the Galaxy playing an undetermined international opponent, the first of what the Thunder hopes will be an annual event. The Thunder is banking on Minnesota's interest in soccer to fill the Metrodome, and boost attendance at their own games.

MPR's Tom Crann talked with Star Tribune sports reporter Jay Weiner about whether Beckham's appearance will translate into more interest in Minnesota soccer.