Devils May Care: ManU Announce Four-City Summer Tour Of U.S.

By Tripp Mickle, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

Manchester United, England’s biggest soccer club, today announced a four-city U.S. tour that includes stops in Toronto, Philadelphia, K.C. and Houston. The tour, ManU’s first since '04, was organized by Soccer United Marketing and CAA. It is the first time the agencies have worked together. Last summer, they competed against each other with SUM organizing an FC Barcelona tour and the Gold Cup and CAA organizing a six-game exhibition tour featuring AC Milan, Inter Milan, Chelsea FC and Club America. Because of the FIFA World Cup this summer, it is unlikely ManU will bring its first team and star players like F Wayne Rooney. But even without its biggest stars, the Glazer-owned soccer club has the power to draw spectators. The tour includes the club playing in the MLS All-Star Game at Reliant Stadium, making ManU by far the biggest club to play in the game. Previous All-Star Game opponents have included Celtic FC, West ham United and Everton FC.