A "sellout crowd of 66,014" at Hard Rock Stadium yesterday was treated to an "entertaining, action-packed" El Clasico Miami as FC Barcelona topped Real Madrid 3-2. Fans in attendance for the match, which was part of the Int'l Champions Cup, "included
Serena Williams,
Tiger Woods,
Draymond Green,
Drake" and 40 Dolphins players. Both teams "left most of their starters in well into the second half" (
MIAMI HERALD, 7/30). Even without Real Madrid F
Cristiano Ronaldo, it was the "biggest soccer game ever played in Miami." The game "more than lived up to the billing." The attendance was "capacity-plus, standing room only" (
MIAMI HERALD, 7/30). For one night in Miami, "soccer was king." The sport "owned its massive stage" (
South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 7/30). The game was "fun on steroids for soccer fans" (
ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/30). ESPN’s
Jon Champion during the game broadcast said Hard Rock Stadium has "hosted five Super Bowls down the years, and there's been a Super Bowl-like buildup to this game" (
ESPN, 7/29).
Meanwhile, Manchester City beat Tottenham 3-0 yesterday in the last leg of the ICC at Nissan Stadium. The match "drew 56,232 spectators, the highest attendance for a soccer game in the state of Tennessee." ICC organizer Relevent Sports Chair Charlie Stillitano said, "This market is very Premier League-centric and very U.S. Soccer-centric. The fans have responded really well to it" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 7/30).
