Real Madrid To Face DC United, Toronto FC In August Exhibitions
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DC United Paying Real Madrid
$1M Appearance Fee |
MLS DC United officials Thursday officially announced an August 9 exhibition game against La Liga club Real Madrid at FedEx Field, after "months of difficult negotiation," according to Steven Goff of the WASHINGTON POST. United chose to host the game at FedEx Field, rather than their RFK Stadium home, because FedEx "can accommodate about twice as many" fans, and by "selling enough tickets, the club would offset Real's appearance fee of an estimated $1[M] and turn a profit." Other factors included FedEx's "private boxes and amenities" and the Redskins' involvement, notably access to the team's season-ticket list. Seats in the stadium's lower bowl will start at $50 for United and Redskins season-ticket holders, while general-public seating, which will go on sale June 17, will start at $60. TV coverage for the game, scheduled for a 3:00pm ET start, has yet to be finalized. Because of the game, United's MLS match against the Wizards has been moved from August 8 to September 9 (WASHINGTON POST, 5/29). In DC, Tim Lemke notes tickets already are available for United and Redskins season-ticket holders, and FedEx's capacity of more than 90,000 "raises the possibility of one of the largest soccer crowds in U.S. history" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 5/29).
SPANISH CONQUEST: The GLOBE & MAIL's Paul Attfield reports Real Madrid also will face Toronto FC on August 7 at BMO Field. Ticket prices for the game have yet to be confirmed, though Toronto FC officials reportedly are "pursuing another opponent for a second exhibition game to fulfill their one-game commitment to season ticket holders, enabling the Real Madrid tickets to be sold at a premium, and not inclusive of season ticket packages." Toronto FC will install a "temporary grass surface on top of the artificial turf" at BMO to accommodate Madrid, "although whether that surface will remain in place for the remainder" of the team's MLS schedule is not known. As a result of the Madrid game, Toronto FC's league game against the Red Bulls has been moved from August 9 to June 13 (GLOBE & MAIL, 5/29).
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