By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
The company that helped build T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas has launched an inaugural international soccer tour, matching some of the world’s best-known soccer teams for two games scheduled for Allegiant Stadium in July.
Los Angeles-based Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) has created the “Soccer Champions Tour,” featuring five high-profile clubs competing in top-tier matches during a nine-day stretch in the western United States, including Las Vegas.
AEG has a direct pipeline to ASM Global, the venue manager hired by the Las Vegas Raiders to operate Allegiant Stadium. So it was logical for two of the five games to be held at the NFL stadium just west of The Strip. Three years ago, AEG’s facilities affiliate combined with SMG to form standalone ASM Global, the venue management company running Allegiant Stadium.
The two soccer games at Allegiant Stadium are Juventus vs Club Deportivo Guadalajara on July 22 and Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona on July 23.
Here are the five games:
“Las Vegas is Las Vegas. It’s the entertainment capital of the world. It was almost a no-brainer for us to do it,” said Tom Braun, AEG senior vice president of soccer & business operations and business development.
The stadium, which can slide in various playing surfaces into the venue, will use a grass field for the soccer matches.
AEG expects a mix of locals and visitors for the two games at Allegiant Stadium.
There’s also another high-profile matchup of two international soccer powers at Allegiant Stadium in July when 2020-2021 UEFA Champions League Champion Chelsea FC and Mexico’s winningest team, Club América, play indoors at the NFL Raiders stadium July 16.
When it comes to soccer and Las Vegas, there is also talk of Major League Soccer expanding to Vegas. The stadium has already hosted a Gold Cup Mexico vs USA Final in August 2021.
PSA