Chicago Trophy Bringing Int'l Soccer To Soldier Field

The inaugural Chicago Trophy, an event that organizers “hope will someday become the premier club soccer event in North America,” will be held July 27 and 29 at Soldier Field and will feature Spain’s Sevilla FC, Mexico’s Club Deportivo Toluca, Poland’s Wisla Krakow and an Italian team that has yet to be announced, according to Fran Spielman of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. Each team will play two matches, and tickets to each doubleheader will cost $45, $65 and $80. The event is being organized by Dublin-based Platinum One, and Shelbourne Development will be the lead sponsor. Platinum One Chair Fintan Drury at a news conference said that organizers and sponsors “have made a ‘minimum three-year commitment’ to the Chicago Trophy and ‘expect to make money over time.’” Meanwhile, Spielman noted World League Men’s Volleyball matches between the U.S. and Italy will be held at Chicago State Univ.’s Convocation Center on June 15 and in October, the Univ. of Illinois-Chicago Pavilion will host the World Boxing Championship (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/2).