Update 2: Dates and time official. Looks like this will be part of the International Champions Cup, and we're replacing the Glendale site as host of this first friendly. Wonder what caused the change.
Bam! RT @CalAthletics: It's official. @realmadrid v. @Inter at California Memorial Stadium on Saturday, July 26, 3pm PT!
— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) May 9, 2014
Press release for Cal Athletics.
Relevent Sports, a division of RSE Ventures announced that top international clubs Real Madrid CF and Inter Milan will face off at Kabam Field at California Memorial Stadium on the University of California, Berkeley campus on Saturday, July 26, as part of the Guinness International Champions Cup. Kickoff for the contest, which will be broadcast internationally in more than 150 countries and domestically on Fox Sports 2, is set for 3 p.m. PDT.
“It’s a unique opportunity to bring two of the world’s biggest soccer clubs to the world’s leading public university,” said Berkeley Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance John Wilton. “It's part of our strategy to diversify revenues, and financially support our athletics programs and our core mission of excellence and access in academics and research. As part of the agreement, 25 percent of the soccer match guarantee will be dedicated to academic scholarship support. The match will also give us a chance to share a beautiful part of our campus with soccer fans across Northern California and will have a positive economic impact on the city of Berkeley.”
Exclusive presale tickets for the Real Madrid v. Inter Milan match will be available Monday, May 12, at 9 a.m. PDT for pre-qualified fans, while the general public will have access to tickets beginning Friday, May 16, at 9 a.m. PDT through the Cal Athletic Ticket Office by clicking here. Tickets for this game will start as low as $45. Additionally, fans will have the opportunity to purchase an Ultimate Fan Pack, which includes one supporter’s section ticket, team gear and priority access to select team training. Also available are VIP Team Travel Packs that allow fans to experience the games alongside their favorite teams, including Real Madrid and Inter Milan, providing VIP tickets, charter travel and world-class accommodations to all of their teams’ Guinness International Champions Cup games. All tickets and packages are available at www.internationalchampionscup.com.
Update: For live video of the announcement at 11:45 a.m. PT, click here.
As expected yesterday, California Memorial Stadium will be host to a big-time international exhibition this summer. Big soccer teams from across the pond travel across the Atlantic in the summer for a chance to mix and match with American audiences (it's now called the International Champions Cup). Soon after the conclusion of the 2014 World Cup, the home of the Bears will open its doors to two of the most decorated sides in European football history. It will be Real Madrid of La Liga squaring off with Inter Milan of Serie A.
That big intl soccer match at Memorial Stadium in July, after the World Cup, is Real Madrid vs Inter Milan. #socceratcal
— John Crumpacker (@crumpackeroncal) May 9, 2014
We will update this post with further details after the press conference. It's not clear whether this is an exhibition or a fixture in the International Champions Cup. The two sides are currently scheduled to play each other on July 26 in the opening leg of the ICC.
Now, considering the close proximity between the World Cup and the international exhibition, there could be a number of first class starters who do not play (or play sparingly) in what appears to be a common friendly. Some of the players on both sides of the pitch will star for Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Brazil and many other World Cup title contenders, so expect many of the Real players (which is filled with World Cup players) to consider sitting this out.
But that doesn't make this match any less star-studded. The prospects of seeing Gareth Bale (who is not attending the World Cup due to WALES) for 30-40 minutes will certainly make this match plenty attractive to the local Bay Area supporters.
Will you consider attending this one? Let us know in the comments.