Soccer giants’ Summer showdown at US stadia

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The Soccer Champions Tour announced recently the schedule for a new series of games featuring six of the world’s most iconic soccer clubs to be played this Summer in major markets across the United States. Spain’s Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona, Italy’s Juventus Football Club and A.C. Milan and England’s (UK) Arsenal F.C. and Manchester United F.C. will compete in eight matches between July 22^nd and August 2^nd, 2023.

‘yahoo!finance’ stated that the 2023 Soccer Champions Tour is the first time these six clubs, which hold among them 31 European trophies, will participate together in a US series. The eight fixtures will take place in host market stadiums in Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando, and San Francisco.

Highlights of the 2023 Soccer Champions Tour include Spanish giants Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona meeting in Texas for the first time ever at the 80,000-capacity AT&T Stadium, home of the National Football League (NFL) team Dallas Cowboys. The Premier League club Manchester United F.C. (UK) and the LaLiga club Real Madrid CF (Spain) will face off for the first time since 2018. The LaLiga club FC Barcelona (Spain) and the Premier League club Arsenal F.C. competing in a rematch of the 2006 European final, and Italian rivals the Serie A teams A.C. Milan and Juventus F.C. (Italy) playing each other in California for the first time in their more than 120-year histories.

The Soccer Champions Tour was created by a newly formed company of global investment firm Sixth Street to support the continued global growth of top-tier sports franchises by organizing high-profile, competitive events for the millions of fans that live outside the domestic markets of the biggest clubs.

San Francisco (US)-based the Sixth Street is a leading global investment firm with approximately $65 billion in assets under management and committed capital. The firm’s experience in global sports includes partnerships and investments with Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona, the National Basketball Association (NBA) team San Antonio Spurs, and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) expansion club coming to the Bay Area in 2024.

Sixth Street is also the majority investor in Legends in partnership with the Dallas Cowboys and the Major League Baseball (MLB) team New York Yankees. Sixth Street uses its long-term flexible capital, data-enabled capabilities and One Team culture to develop themes and offer solutions to companies across all stages of growth. Founded in 2009, Sixth Street has more than 500 team members including over 180 investment professionals operating around the world.

Founded in 2008, New York (US)-based Legends is a premium experiences company with six divisions operating worldwide – Global Planning, Global Sales, Global Partnerships, Hospitality, Global Merchandise, and Global Technology Solutions – offering clients and partners a 360-degree data and analytics fueled service solution platform to elevate their brand and execute their vision. Currently, Legends works with marquee clients across business verticals including professional sports, collegiate, attractions, entertainment, and conventions and leisure. Legends are the industry leaders in designing, planning and realizing exceptional experiences in sports and entertainment.

Remarked Alan Waxman, Co-Founder and head honcho at Sixth Street, “We are proud to be partnering with the world’s most storied clubs, which have the world’s strongest and most passionate supporters, to provide this rare opportunity for American fans to experience the game at the highest level. While this year’s tour consists of men’s clubs, we look forward to expanding next Summer to bring the world’s best women’s clubs to the local audiences around the globe, and in the future to evolve this series into a format with real games of consequence.”

In addition to men’s and women’s professional club matches, the tour also intends to organize elite youth academy competitions in the years to come.

‘yahoo!finance’ further stated that the Soccer Champions Tour is working closely with the global premium experiences company Legends to bring these marquee matchups and elevated in-game experiences to local fans of the game.

Added Shervin Mirhashemi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Legends, “Legends is proud to bring fans of the beautiful game this unforgettable experience this Summer and deliver a fan experience that will match the world-class soccer on the pitch. We can’t wait to see stadiums filled across the United States with fans cheering on some of the best clubs in the world as they compete in the Soccer Champions Tour.”

The 2023 Soccer Champions Tour is being produced in partnership with AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company.

Los Angeles (US)-based the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), also known as AEG Worldwide, is an American global sporting and music entertainment presenter and a subsidiary of The Anschutz Corporation. It is the world’s largest owner of sports teams and sports events. Under the AEG Presents brand, it is the world’s second-largest presenter of live music and entertainment events, after Live Nation. AEG Presents was founded in 2002 as AEG Live.

Enthused Tom Braun, Senior Vice-President, Soccer and Business Operations and Business Development at AEG, “The AEG is excited about the partnership with the Soccer Champions Tour and Legends to bring the most successful soccer clubs in the world to fans across the United States. Every matchup in this series is of the highest caliber and we’re thrilled that the American soccer fans will have the opportunity to see these epic games featuring legendary teams live and in-person.”
 

Soccer Champions Tour Schedule

 

July 22^nd

• FC Barcelona vs. Juventus F.C. at the 68,500-capacity Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California;

 

July 23^rd

• Real Madrid CF vs. A.C. Milan at the 89,702-capacity Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California;

 

July 26^th

• Arsenal F.C. vs. FC Barcelona at the 70,000-capacity SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California;

 

July 26^th

• Real Madrid CF vs. Manchester United F.C. at the 72,220-capacity NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas;

 

July 27^th

• Juventus F.C. vs. A.C .Milan at the 27,000-capacity Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California;

 

July 29^th

• FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid CF at the AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas;

 

August 1^st

• A.C. Milan vs. FC Barcelona at the 65,000-capacity Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada; and

 

August 2^nd

• Juventus F.C. vs. Real Madrid CF at the 60,219-capacity Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

 
The matches remain subject to approval by the relevant football authorities.
 

Media Assets

Click HERE for Soccer Champions Tour assets, including logo, schedule graphic and video. Additional details about the event, including media accreditation for the Soccer Champions Tour, will be announced at a later date.

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