GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – The Green Bay Packers say Lambeau Field will host an exhibition match between European soccer clubs FC Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
The teams will compete for the USA Cup in Titletown on July 23.
“We are looking forward to hosting a different kind of football at Lambeau Field this summer as we welcome FC Bayern Munich and Manchester City to Green Bay,” said Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy. “Our home stadium is renowned for its history and tradition, and we’re honored to host two equally historic clubs from across the pond. We’re looking forward to seeing their devoted supporters from around the world attend Lambeau Field’s debut soccer match.”
The Lambeau grounds crew already started transforming the gridiron into a soccer pitch Monday afternoon.
Murphy anticipates drawing fans from all over the country and world to historic Lambeau Field.
“I think it’s a perfect match with our history and our tradition… We live here so we see it every day… The opportunity to be the first teams ever to play a soccer match here at Lambeau Field will be pretty special. We’re going to have to figure out the corner kicks. It’ll be just a little different, right? They’re good enough athletes. They’ll adjust.”
Tickets go on sale May 6 at 10 a.m. but Packers season ticket holders have a special advantage. They’ll be able to participate in a presale on May 5 at 10 a.m. Prices range from $35 to $160.
A sellout crowd is expected—which means 80,000 soccer fans will provide a major boost to the local tourism industry that’s still recovering from the pandemic.
“We’re expecting over $10 million in economic impact to the community, so it’s huge, it’s bigger than a concert,” Discover Green Bay President and CEO Brad Toll said. “This does bring a new audience into the community, so those are first time visitors. We certainly have an opportunity then to try and influence their stay while they’re here. Hopefully they’ll have a good time, decide to come back.”
The match will also help soccer gain popularity on a local level.
“We have a lot of clubs here. It’ll help get new blood into the programs, just get this new kind of vibe going on with soccer here in Green Bay,” Toll continued.
Packers legend LeRoy Butler gave Bayern Munich’s Claudio Pizarro and Manchester City’s Shaun Wright-Phillips a special tour of the Hall of Fame. On Monday, the future Hall of Famer gave them a tutorial on how to do a Lambeau Leap.
“We are really excited to bring FC Bayern back to the USA after a difficult couple of years with the pandemic,” commented Pizarro. “We are the world’s biggest sports family and we are looking forward to play in front of our family of fans at the iconic Lambeau Field,” he added.
“We are really looking forward to going to Green Bay to play Bayern Munich at Lambeau Field in the second friendly of our U.S. preseason trip. We know there is a great sports history and culture across the region and it is an honor for Manchester City to be part of the first professional soccer game to be held at this iconic venue,” said Omar Berrada, Chief Football Operations Officer at City Football Group.
Cardenás Marketing Network (CMN) helped make the match possible.
“We are delighted to bring international soccer to Green Bay for the very first time,” said Henry Cardenás, President/CEO of CMN. “We look forward to hosting this historic encounter in partnership with the Packers as it will feature two of the world’s most accomplished football clubs at one of the world’s most celebrated sports venues.”
📍 Lambeau Field
👋 @packers #AudiFCBTour pic.twitter.com/q3bScJDzed
— 🇺🇸 FC Bayern US 🇨🇦 (@FCBayernUS) May 2, 2022
Founded in 1900, FC Bayern Munich is the most successful club in German history with 31 national titles and six Champions League titles.
See you in the summer, @ManCity! #FCBayern will take on Man City as part of the #AudiFCBTour 🔴⚪
🔗 https://t.co/FySRXNXm7t#Advertisement pic.twitter.com/dDp1MquV9n
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) May 2, 2022
FC Bayern Munich is the most successful club in German history. They hold 31 national titles and six Champions League titles. The team was founded in 1900.
Manchester City is the reigning Premier League Champion. The team dates back to 1880.
“It’s going to be extraordinarily special to host these two iconic teams,” Murphy said.
🇺🇸 City in the States! 🇺🇸
The second fixture of our 2022/23 pre-season trip will take place at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Saturday 23 July against Bayern Munich! 🏟
⬇️ DETAILS ⬇️
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 2, 2022
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