The Int'l Champions Cup is "set to return to Australia for the next three years, but not necessarily to Melbourne," according to Matt Windley of the HERALD SUN. The Melbourne Cricket Ground will host Real Madrid, AS Roma and Man City in three matches across eight days starting Saturday and the Victorian government "is in talks with TLA Worldwide and Nine Live, who brought the tournament here, about its future." TLA Chair Bart Campbell said that "how next year's event would look and where it would be played is still up in the air." He did say, however, that, like the tournament's North American arm -- which is currently in its third year -- A-League teams such as Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City "could be invited to play against European giants in the coming years." Victorian Sports Minister John Eren said that major events are worth A$1.8B ($1.34B) to the state's economy. Eren: "That's a significant amount of economic activity. That's why we are very focused on making sure that whenever we have events such as these, they are the best events" (HERALD SUN, 7/14). In Melbourne, Michael Lynch reported Eren said that he will insist on either Melbourne Victory or Melbourne City "being involved" in the next high-profile football tournament. Although the tournament, being held at the MCG, "has attracted
investment from the state government's Major Events Company," neither
City nor Victory will play at the MCG. Melbourne City is "in fact" having to travel to
the Gold Coast to play Man City, the biggest club in the City
Football Group, in a preseason warm-up match on Saturday "as none of the participants is allowed to play in Melbourne before the tournament
kicks off" (THE AGE, 7/14).
