L.A. branch of David Beckham Academy closes

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By Zac Lee Rigg, Special to SI.com, Goal.com

The David Beckham Academy in Carson, Calif., shut down shortly before Christmas with no official announcement, according to a report in the Daily Breeze.

A branch in London previously closed with very little fanfare. Both were jointly run by Anschutz Entertainment Group, owner of the Los Angeles Galaxy, and 19 Entertainment, Beckham's management team. The closure in California cost a handful of full-time staff their jobs.

"The David Beckham Academy will no longer operate its Los Angeles location," said a memo from AEG spokesman Michael Roth, which the Daily Breeze unearthed. "Planning is currently under way with David and senior coaches to develop a program and coaching model that will move beyond the limits of one location and ultimately impact more children in more cities across the United States and worldwide."

Attendance never reached anticipated levels and frequency of camps decreased steadily until the academy closed.