INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONS CUP PRESENTED BY HEINEKEN ANNOUNCES PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN F.C. AND JUVENTUS F.C. TO SQUARE OFF ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 26 AT HARD ROCK STADIUM
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March 21, 2017
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONS CUP PRESENTED BY HEINEKEN ANNOUNCES PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN F.C. AND JUVENTUS F.C. TO SQUARE OFF ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 26 AT HARD ROCK STADIUM
Kickoff set for 8:30PM ET on ESPN2 and ESPNews
Additional Matches to Take Place Across the United States Including
San Francisco, New York, Southern California, Boston,
Washington D.C., Orlando and Nashville
MIAMI (March 21, 2017) – Relevent Sports, a division of RSE Ventures, today announced that four-time defending Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain F.C. and five-time defending Serie A champions Juventus F.C. will match up at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fl., on Wednesday, July 26 as part of the 2017 International Champions Cup presented by Heineken. The match is set to kick off at 8:30PM ET on ESPN2 and ESPNews.
Both Paris Saint-Germain F.C. and Juventus F.C. rank among the leaders in their respective domestic leagues. Paris Saint-Germain F.C. features a dynamic mix of young talent and veteran leadership. New acquisition Julian Draxler joined an already lethal attack lead by Ligue 1’s current leading goal scorer and Uruguayan national Edinson Cavani. Juventus F.C. continues their dominance in Serie A as they chase an astounding sixth consecutive league championship. The club features a strong defensive unit which begins with Italian goalkeeper and 16-year veteran of the club, Gianluigi “Gigi” Buffon.
Hard Rock Stadium returns as a venue for the ICC after hosting the championship match in each of the first two years of the tournament. The renovations to Hard Rock Stadium have made it possible to host the highest caliber of soccer competition while serving as the home of the Miami Dolphins. The venue also serves as home to the University of Miami football team, Orange Bowl, Super Bowl LIV, the College Football Playoff Semifinals and a host of world class events. This match will be the first of two hosted by Hard Rock Stadium as part of the 2017 International Champions Cup presented by Heineken, with El Clasico Miami featuring Real Madrid C.F. and FC Barcelona to take place three days later.
Tickets for the Paris Saint-Germain F.C. v. Juventus F.C. matchup at Hard Rock Stadium will go on sale to the general public beginning Tuesday, April 4. VIP travel and ticket packages are available now via the Fontainebleau Miami Beach at www.fontainebleau.com/elclasico. Fans can find all venue-specific and other ticket information at www.internationalchampionscup.com.
“Nearing the end of each league season, Paris Saint Germain and Juventus are among the top teams of their respective leagues” said Charlie Stillitano, Chairman of Relevent Sports. “This matchup of likely league champions adds a level of excitement to the host of events occurring that week in Miami. We are thrilled to have them kick start the first of two matches held at Hard Rock Stadium.”
The 2017 International Champions Cup presented by Heineken will run from July 19 – 30 and feature 12 matches played across 11 cities throughout the United States. In total, eight teams from around the globe, including England (Manchester United F.C., Manchester City F.C., Tottenham Hotspur F.C.), Italy (Juventus F.C., AS Roma), France (Paris Saint-Germain F.C.) and Spain (FC Barcelona, Real Madrid C.F.) will compete in this year’s tournament. 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.
Since being purchased by Qatar Sports Investment in 2011, Paris Saint-Germain F.C. has re-established its position as one of the top teams in the world. Founded in 1970, the club is one of the most successful in French history, having won ten French Cups and Ligue 1 six times, including each of the previous four seasons. The club claimed three more soccer cups in the 2015-16 campaign: Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue & Trophée des Champions. With key addition such as Julian Draxler joining veterans. Angel di Maria and Edinson Cavani, Paris Saint-Germain F.C. continues to put its stamp on the global soccer landscape. For more information on Paris Saint-Germain F.C., please visit www.psg.fr.
Juventus F.C., also known as “Juve,” was founded on November 1, 1897 in Turin, Italy. Since then, the club has dominated Italian football with a record 34 Serie A championships. The awards continue with a record 11 Coppa Italia Cups, seven Supercoppa Italia Cups and two European cup/UEFA Champions League championships. Famous for their black-and-white striped uniforms, the 2016-17 Juventus F.C. squad continues to carry on the club’s legacy in pursuit of a sixth consecutive Serie A title. The current roster features a strong defensive unit, led by Italian nationals Gianluigi Buffon who has 612 total appearances for the club, Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci. Brazilian Dani Alves rounds out the back while German midfielder Sami Khedira mans the midfield. Argentine goal scorer Gonzalo Higuain leads the attack along with Croatian star Mario Mandžukić. The club plays its home matches in Juventus Stadium where is unbeaten since August 2015. For more information on Juventus F.C., please visit www.juventus.com.
For the second consecutive year, Heineken is the presenting sponsor of the 2017 International Champions Cup. In addition to Heineken, the 2017 tournament features a leading line-up of sponsors, including Ally, Nike, Orlando, Chevrolet, AON, Groupon, VividSeats, Gatorade and Xyience. Additional partners will be announced in the coming months. All matches for the International Champions Cup will be carried on ESPN networks including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and streaming network ESPN3, accessible through WatchESPN and the ESPN App.
Fans can follow the ICC on social media at @intchampionscup for exclusive content and announcements, and join the conversation using #2017ICC. Fans can sign up for up news, updates and ticket information at www.internationalchampionscup.com.
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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 match-ups and tournaments in soccer featuring the top clubs, international teams and players. Since 2013, Relevent Sports has organized the International Champions Cup; the premier preseason tournament featuring the top European clubs with matches in North America, Europe and Asia. Utilizing brand development, grassroots planning, corporate sponsors, international touring and philanthropic initiatives, Relevent Sports promotes and grows the love of soccer worldwide.
About the International Champions Cup
The International Champions Cup is the world’s premier 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 works with leading sponsors such as Heineken, Nike, Orlando, and Ally, among others, to bring the best in soccer to iconic sports venues across North America, Europe and China.
The International Champions Cup has hosted some of the most iconic matchups in the world, including the two most attended soccer matches in U.S. history. First came when Real Madrid C.F. and Manchester United F.C. drew 109,318 fans to Michigan Stadium at the University of Michigan. Real Madrid C.F. returned to the “Big House” to take on Chelsea F.C. in front of 105,826 fans, second all-time, as part of the 2016 tournament. The International Champions Cup also has hosted the most attended soccer matches in Minnesota (64,101 at U.S. Bank Stadium) and Ohio (86,641 at Ohio Stadium) state history. In its four-year history, Real Madrid C.F., Manchester United F.C., Juventus F.C. and Paris Saint-Germain F.C. 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, Ascendent Sports Group and the International Champions Cup.
About HEINEKEN USA
HEINEKEN USA Inc., the nation’s leading upscale beer importer, is a subsidiary of HEINEKEN International NV, the world’s most international brewer. European brands imported into the U.S. include Heineken®, the world’s most international beer brand, Strongbow Hard Apple Ciders, Amstel Light, and Newcastle Brown Ale. HEINEKEN USA also imports the Dos Equis Franchise, Tecate Franchise, Sol, Indio, Carta Blanca and Bohemia brands from Mexico. For the latest information on our company and brands, follow us on Twitter @HeinekenUSACorp, or visit HEINEKENUSA.com.
