The following press release comes from the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer
Red Bulls to Compete in Third Annual International Champions Cup
HARRISON, N.J. (April 15, 2015) – The New York Red Bulls are set to take part in the 2015 International Champions Cup North America, as announced today by Relevant Sports. The Red Bulls will partake in the third annual ICC North America along with top clubs from around the globe. The tournament will run from July 11 to August 5, with Official network partners FOX Sports televising the entirety of the tournament’s 17 matches live on FOX, FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2.
Ten clubs from across the globe will participate in the highly anticipated summer tournament, including teams from Spain, England, Portugal, Mexico and Italy, as well as two additional Major League Soccer franchises. Below is a list of the team clubs, led by Manchester United, the defending International Champions Cup champions:
- Manchester United F.C.
- FC Barcelona
- Paris Saint-Germain F.C.
- Chelsea F.C.
- FC Porto
- Club América
- ACF Fiorentina
- New York Red Bulls
- Los Angeles Galaxy
- San Jose Earthquakes
“The last two years have demonstrated the thirst for soccer in the United States,” said David Tyler, CEO of Relevent Sports. “The clubs participating in the International Champions Cup this year are some of the most storied and well-known in the entire world. Through our tournament and commitment to putting the best product and teams on the pitch, we will continue to grow soccer both domestically and abroad.”
“Year Two of the International Champions Cup set the gold standard for soccer worldwide,” said Charlie Stillitano, Chairman of Relevent Sports. “Not only did more than 600,000 fans pack stadiums to watch elite soccer across the country, but the 109,000 fans attending the Manchester United and Real Madrid match created a historic day for both the tournament and the sport. We are excited to bring even more fans, historic matchups and world-class soccer to iconic venues in 2015.”
The tournament will be seen in over 160 countries across the world and will be played throughout July and August. Official network partners FOX will televise the entirety of the tournament’s 17 matches live on FOX, FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. Internationally, future media rights deals will be announced over the coming weeks.
“The International Champions Cup has become a global brand,” said Matt Higgins, CEO of RSE Ventures. “This summer, we will have three tournaments running concurrently across the entire world. In just two years, the International Champions Cup has quickly become one of the premier sports properties in the entire world, and we are eager to continue expanding into new markets and bringing our tournament to additional fans in the years ahead.”
Each participating MLS club will host at least one matchup. Additional information on specific matchups, venues and dates will be announced on April 28. Further details about the 2015 International Champions Cup North America including presale information can be found at www.internationalchampionscup.com.
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About New York Red Bulls
The New York Red Bulls are one of 20 teams in Major League Soccer (MLS). They are one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its founding in 1996.
The Red Bulls currently play their home matches at Red Bull Arena (RBA) in Harrison, New Jersey. RBA, a state-of-the-art 25,000-seat stadium, is widely regarded as the top soccer-specific stadium in North America.
The club is owned by the Austrian beverage company Red Bull for which the team is named.
The first team is led by captain Dax McCarty, Goalkeeper Luis Robles, 2014 MLS Golden Boot Winner Bradley Wright-Phillips and U.S. international Sacha Kljestan. The New York Red Bulls offer one of the nation’s premier youth soccer development programs, from grassroots Training Programs to the Regional Development School, then on to the Academy Teams and, ultimately, to the Red Bulls professional team.
About Relevent Sports
Relevent Sports provides an innovative approach to building a soccer presence in the United States and around the globe. Relevent Sports showcases the best match-ups and tournaments in soccer featuring the top clubs, international teams and players. In addition to hosting the International Champions Cup annually every summer, Relevent Sports works closely with national teams including Brazil, Argentina and Portugal to host exhibition matches in major sports venues throughout the year. Utilizing brand development, grassroots planning, corporate sponsors, international touring and philanthropic initiatives, Relevent Sports promotes and grows the love of soccer worldwide.
About the International Champions Cup North America
The International Champions Cup is an annual summer soccer tournament organized by Relevent Sports, featuring the best clubs from around the world. A staple property of Relevent Sports and RSE Ventures, the International Champions Cup brings the best in soccer to iconic sports venues across North America, Australia, Europe and China.
Last year, the International Champions Cup featured premier European clubs including Manchester United, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Manchester City, AC Milan, Roma, Inter Milan and Olympiacos. The tournament, played across 13 North American cities, saw Manchester United go undefeated en route to the championship. The International Champions Cup also featured the largest attended soccer match in United States history, when 109,318 fans packed the “Big House” at the University of Michigan to witness Manchester United defeat Real Madrid. The inaugural tournament in 2013 featured eight clubs – Real Madrid, Juventus, Chelsea, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Valencia, Everton and the L.A. Galaxy. It concluded with Real Madrid’s victory over Chelsea in front of nearly 70,000 fans.
Since its inception in 2013, more than one million fans have packed stadiums to watch clubs compete in the International Champions Cup, along with more than 700 million households watching worldwide. In 2015, the tournament will expand to Asia and Australia, as it continues to grow rapidly and attract fans from all over the world.
About RSE Ventures
Founded in 2012 by Stephen M. Ross and Matt Higgins, RSE Ventures is a multi-national sports and entertainment venture firm with a focus on new technologies. RSE builds, owns and operates companies in sports, media, entertainment and technology, including Catalyst Media Group, VaynerMedia, Vayner/RSE, Relevent Sports, Ascendent Sports Group and the International Champions Cup.
Main Photo: Red Bulls vs D.C. United 03.22.2015 by Bill Twomey Photography
