The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/299859
INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS MICHIGAN SELLS OUT SOCCER GAME AT THE BIG HOUSE On April 4, in conjunction with RelEvent Sports, Michigan's athletic depart- ment announced Ann Arbor would play host to a match between Real Madrid and Manchester United Aug. 2 as part of the 2014 Guinness International Champions Cup. Priority tickets went on sale to donors of Michigan athletics April 7 and, with the release of tickets to the general public, The Big House of- ficially sold out its lot April 10. " We were confident fans would recognize the magni- tude of this contest between the two most famous teams in the world, but the response surpassed our expectations," RelEvent Sports chief executive officer Charlie Stillitano said. "This sellout affirms the grow- ing desire for more interna- tional football in the States and firmly establishes the Guinness International Champions Cup as the must-see event in the U.S. this summer. "We look forward to provid- ing soccer fans across America the chance to watch the big- gest teams in the world play in their backyards." The United States record for soccer attendance took place in 1984, when 101,799 people watched France defeat Brazil in the gold-medal match of the Summer Olympic Games. Michigan Stadium owns the record for American football attendance with 115,109 taking in the U-M-Notre Dame game in 2013. Michigan Stadium also set NHL attendance record with 105,491 patrons at this year's Winter Classic Jan. 1 despite frigid temperatures. U-M athletics director David Brandon admitted he had to be sold a little bit on the value of the event, but quickly became convinced that, like the NHL's Winter U-M athletics director David Brandon helped bring Real Madrid and Manchester United to Michigan Stadium. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL