University of Michigan to Host Real Madrid-Chelsea Match
3/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | General
March 24, 2016
• Ticket Information | Tournament Information
• Press Conference 
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Relevent Sports, a division of RSE Ventures -- a multi-national sports and entertainment venture firm with a focus on new technologies -- announced today (Thursday, March 24) that world-famous La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid and globally revered English Premier League club Chelsea will meet on Saturday, July 30, at 3 p.m. EDT at Michigan Stadium as part of the 2016 International Champions Cup.
Exclusive presale tickets for the match will be available Tuesday, March 29 at 8:30 a.m. EDT while the general public will have access to tickets beginning Tuesday, April 5 at 8:30 a.m. through the Michigan Athletic Ticket Office and online at MGoBlue.com/tickets. Additional information and access to presale information is available at www.internationalchampionscup.com.
Ticket on-sale dates include:
- Tuesday, March 29 - Michigan Athletics donors with 100 or more points
- Wednesday, March 30 - All Michigan Athletics donors
- Thursday, March 31 -- Michigan Athletics Digital Community (Sign up for access via the Michigan Insider)
- Tuesday, April 5 - All tickets available to the public
In 2014, the International Champions Cup came to Michigan when Real Madrid and Manchester United played the first soccer match at Michigan Stadium and set the record for the largest attended soccer match in the history of the United States with 109,318 fans.
"We are ecstatic to be coming back to the University of Michigan," said Charlie Stillitano, Chairman of Relevent Sports. "In 2014, Real Madrid and Manchester United set the record for largest attended soccer game and we expect another great crowd, as Real Madrid and Chelsea are two of the biggest and best teams in the world. This will be a marquee match of the tournament and we are excited to bring the ICC back to Michigan."
The 2016 International Champions Cup will run from July 23 -- August 13 and play matches across the United States and throughout the world. Each team will play three contests, and the club with the most points at the end of the tournament will be crowned champion. Each win in regulation will result in three points and a tie will go straight to a shootout; the winning team in a shootout will receive two points and the losing team will receive one.
Founded in 1902, Real Madrid has won the most European cup competitions in any club's history - a staggering total of 10 titles, its most recent arriving in the 2013-2014 season. In addition, the Royal Whites have been champions of La Liga 32 times, while winning the domestic cup 19 times. Los Blancos currently field a roster featuring some of the best players in the world including Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Gareth Bale (Wales), James Rodriguez (Columbia) as well as home-grown Spanish talent Sergio Ramos and Isco. Led by former Real Madrid midfielder, French footballing legend and first-year manager Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid returns to the International Champions Cup after winning the inaugural tournament in the United States, Australia and China. For more information on Real Madrid, please visit www.realmadrid.com.
Nicknamed 'The Blues', Chelsea Football Club consistently ranks among the best clubs in the world. The first club to ever hold both the Champions League and Europa League titles at the same time, Chelsea's iconic position as a central point of England's premiership continues to challenge the international soccer world. Chelsea won the Champions League crown in 2012 and followed with the Europa League title in 2013. In total, Chelsea has won five English Premier League championships, including one in 2015, seven FA Cup titles, five Football League Cup titles, two Cup Winners' Cup titles and a Super Cup. Chelsea has also invested in its future with a state-of-the-art Academy and training centre in Cobham, Surrey. Since its opening in 2007, the club has reached six FA Youth Cup finals, lifting the trophy three times. Additionally, the Chelsea Foundation boasts one of the most extensive community initiatives in sport, working in 30 countries around the world, helping improve the lives of more than 900,000 children and young people each year. The club features world class talent such as Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Diego Costa. For more information on Chelsea, please visit www.chelseafc.com.
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 matchups and tournaments in soccer featuring the top clubs, international teams and players.
About the International Champions Cup
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.
The International Champions Cup has hosted some of the most iconic matchups in the world, including the largest attended soccer match in U.S. history, when 109,318 fans saw Real Madrid and Manchester United play at the "Big House" at the University of Michigan. In its four-year history, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have all won installments of the tournament.
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 and Ascendent Sports Group.
About Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium is the largest sports stadium in the United States. The venue regularly draws crowds in excess of 107,000 for University of Michigan football games and holds records for attendance in college football, professional ice hockey, college ice hockey and soccer. The Michigan football team has played 265 consecutive home games in front of crowds in excess of 100,000, dating back to 1975.
Media Contacts
University of Michigan: Kurt Svoboda
Relevent Sports: Ben Spencer
Derris & Company: Nick Rosen-Wachs
