May 2, 2022
## FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ##
LAMBEAU FIELD TO HOST EXHIBITION MATCH BETWEEN
FC BAYERN MUNICH AND MANCHESTER CITY JULY 23
Match between the European clubs, ‘USA Cup,’ is part of FCB’s Audi Summer Tour;
Packers partnered with CMN to bring inaugural soccer match to historic venue
The Green Bay Packers announced today an exhibition match between European soccer clubs FC Bayern Munich and Manchester City, the USA Cup, will take place at Lambeau Field on Saturday, July 23, the first-ever soccer match to be played at the historic American football stadium.
The Packers joined representatives from FC Bayern Munich and Manchester City on Monday morning to make the announcement. The USA Cup is part of FC Bayern Munich’s preseason Audi Summer Tour, during which they will also stop in Washington, D.C., to play D.C. United on July 20. Before traveling to Green Bay, Manchester City will also be playing an earlier fixture on July 20 at NRG Stadium in Houston against Club América as part of their 2022/23 preseason trip in the U.S.
This will be the second meeting between the clubs on U.S. territory after Man City defeated FCB 3-2 on July 28, 2018, at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium in an International Champions Cup match.
“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.”
Tickets for the game will go on sale to the public Friday, May 6, at 10 a.m. CDT at Ticketmaster.com. Packers Season Ticket Holders will have access to an exclusive presale starting at 10 a.m. CDT on Thursday, May 5, with additional details provided via email from the Packers ticket office. Season ticket holders and official supporters clubs for FC Bayern Munich and Manchester City will have a separate presale window for tickets starting May 3 at 10 a.m. in their local time zones. Prices range from $35 to $160.
The match will begin at 6 p.m. CDT, with further details regarding broadcast network, match weekend activities and stadium information to be announced in the coming months. Parking for general ticket holders will be $20, first-come, first-served, in the Lambeau Field parking lots.
The Packers organization partnered with Cardenás Marketing Network (CMN), an award-winning touring, booking, sports and multicultural marketing agency, to bring the exhibition match, also referred to as a friendly, to Green Bay. Lambeau Field, the longest-tenured stadium in the NFL, has hosted a variety of non-Packers events over the last decade, including concerts and a college football matchup.
“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.”
FCB Legend Claudio Pizarro and Man City Legend Shaun Wright-Phillips took part in Monday’s announcement at Lambeau Field, greeting local soccer club representatives and receiving a special tour of the Packers Hall of Fame from Super Bowl champion and Pro Football and Packers Hall of Fame safety LeRoy Butler.
Founded in 1900, FC Bayern Munich is the most successful club in German history with 31 national titles and six Champions League titles. Recently crowned the 2021/22 Bundesliga champions – a record-breaking 10th consecutive league title – FC Bayern are led by 2020-21 Golden Shoe winner Robert Lewandowski. The 33-year-old Polish international is currently Europe’s top scorer and is expected to lead Poland at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Some of the biggest names in soccer, including Juergen Klinsmann, Lothar Matthäus, Arjen Robben, Claudio Pizarro, Franck Ribery, Gerd Müller, Oliver Kahn and Franz Beckenbauer, have defended the crest for Die Bayern.
“We are really excited to bring FC Bayern back to the USA after a difficult couple of years with the pandemic,” commented FC Bayern legend Claudio 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.
The FCB currently boasts German internationals Thomas Müller, Joshua Kimmich, Manuel Neuer and Leroy Sané, as well as Canadian Men’s Player of the Year, Alphonso Davies, along with French stars Lucas Hernández (defender) and Kingsley Coman (striker). The club is currently managed by Julian Nagelsmann, who took over the reins in July 2021 and is considered one of the best young managers in European football.
Manchester City, the reigning Premier League Champion, was originally founded as St. Mark’s West Gorton in 1880, later assuming its current name in 1894. The Club has secured a European Cup Winners’ Cup, seven League Championship titles, including five Premier League titles in the last seven years (2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2021) and six FA Cups. Manchester City is one of 11 clubs comprising the City Football Group (CFG). Under manager Pep Guardiola, one of the most highly decorated managers in world soccer, the Club plays its domestic and UEFA Champions League home fixtures at the 55,000 seat Etihad Stadium that City has called home since 2003. They are scheduled to meet Real Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League Semifinals on Wednesday, May 4.
“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. “We are excited to have the opportunity to play in front of our fans who we know will come from far and wide as they always do. Our sport continues to develop and grow across the U.S., and we are proud to be part of that. This match will be an important piece of our preparation for the 2022/23 season.”
The Cityzens currently field a roster featuring some of the most promising players in the world, including Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) and Bernardo Silva (Portugal) – as well as young English talent Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling – and American goalkeeper, Zack Steffen. Guardiola took charge of Manchester City in 2016 after a three-year stint managing Bayern Munich, where he won the Bundesliga in each of his three seasons there, including two domestic doubles. Regarded as one of the best managers in world football, Guardiola has guided Man City to Premier League titles in 2018, 2019, and 2021 and last season became the first City boss to take his side to a Champions League final.
About the Green Bay Packers:
The Green Bay Packers, established in 1919, are the NFL’s only community-owned team with more than 537,000 shareholders. With a tradition of excellence, the Packers have captured an NFL-record 13 world championships, including four Super Bowls, and have 28 individuals enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a total that is second among all teams. Lambeau Field, the Packers’ venerable home that was built in 1957, is the longest-tenured stadium in the NFL and recognized by many as having the top gameday experience in professional sports. In the community, the Packers have an annual economic impact of nearly $300 million.
About CMN:
CMN is the leader in live entertainment. As a touring, booking, sports and multicultural marketing agency, our goal is to entertain by creating unique experiences through our events. Henry Cárdenas, entrepreneur, philanthropist and founder of CMN, is a pioneer in bringing Latin entertainment and live sport events to the United States. The Chicago-based company with offices in Miami operates through professionals constantly creating cutting-edge experiences and producing the best events in the country. To learn more about CMN and its roster of artists, visit www.cmnevents.com or follow us at @cmnevents.
About FC Bayern Munich:
FC Bayern Munich is one of the world’s most successful sports organizations on and off the field. Since the club’s foundation in 1900, FC Bayern has won 31 national championships, 20 domestic cups as well as six UEFA Champions League titles, making it the most successful German team in history. FC Bayern is also renowned globally for its financial success, youth development and supporter culture. The club’s unique ownership structure sees more than 295,000 club members own a majority share, more than any other sports organization in the world. With over 900 million interested worldwide, FC Bayern is one of the strongest brands in global sports. In April 2014, FC Bayern opened its first international office in the U.S. to engage with the millions of fans living in the Americas. Following the success of the first international venture, the club opened an office in Shanghai in March 2017 and Bangkok April 2022.
About Manchester City Football Club:
Manchester City FC is an English Premier League club initially founded in 1880 as St Mark’s West Gorton. It officially became Manchester City FC in 1894 and has since then gone onto win the European Cup Winners’ Cup, seven League Championship titles, including five Premier League titles (2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2021), and six FA Cups. Manchester City FC is one of 11 clubs comprising the City Football Group and counts New York City FC and Melbourne City FC among its sister clubs. Under manager Pep Guardiola, one of the most highly decorated managers in world football, the Club plays its domestic and UEFA Champions League home fixtures at the Etihad Stadium, a spectacular 55,000 seat arena that City have called home since 2003. Today, the Stadium sits on the wider Etihad Campus, which also encompasses the City Football Academy, a state-of-the-art performance training and youth development facility located in the heart of East Manchester. Featuring a 7,000 capacity Academy Stadium, the City Football Academy is also where Manchester City Women’s Football Club and the Elite Development Squad train on a daily basis and play their competitive home games.