[dropcap]A[/dropcap]ll but one of the matches for this year’s Guinness International Champions Cup have been announced for some time, but rumors of what could be this year’s centerpiece fixture were confirmed after several months of speculation.
In a press conference held Friday afternoon by the University of Michigan, it was confirmed that Manchester United and Real Madrid will meet on August 2 at The Big House in a group stage match of the competition, currently in just its second year.
Although the tournament brought a number of elite clubs in its inaugural showing last summer, it boasts even more clout in its second iteration, perhaps headlined by the match hosted in Ann Arbor. Recent studies by companies like Brand Finance and Germany company SPORT+MARKT place Manchester United and Real Madrid in the top three clubs in the world in terms of both estimated fans and brand value.
Predictably, this will mark the first time that the two clubs will meet outside of the UEFA Champions League. The pair faced one another just last season in the competition’s Round of 16, the marking the first time they’d met in 10 years. Real Madrid advanced by a 2-1 aggregate before being eliminated in the semifinals. Despite struggling domestically in the squad’s first season under manager David Moyes, United, along with Madrid, are in the 2013-2014 competition’s quarterfinals.
According to Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon, a portion of the profits from the event are expected to be applied toward soccer facilities for the university. The economic impact, according to a study conducted, could reach up to $15-20 million for the Washtenaw County area.
Last year’s final between victorious Real Madrid and Chelsea held in Miami drew a tournament-high crowd of 67,273, but its expected that the United-Madrid tilt will shatter that mark easily.
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