Feb 23 / 2024
Williams-Brice Stadium to Host International Soccer Match
Premier League Titans Set to Make History at Williams-Brice Stadium
Liverpool F.C. and Manchester United to face off at Williams-Brice Stadium on August 3 as part of the Rivals in Red Tour
Tickets on Sale Tuesday, February 27 at 9 AM on Ticketmaster.com
Columbia, SC (February 23, 2024) — Liverpool F.C. and Manchester United, are set to make history this summer at Williams-Brice Stadium when they face off on Saturday, August 3 as part of the three city, Rivals in Red Tour. The match will bring the Premier League titans together for the biggest international soccer match in the history of the state.
“We are excited to host two of the greatest sports brands in the world at Williams-Brice Stadium,” said South Carolina athletics director Ray Tanner. “We look forward to having this wonderful and historic match, bringing soccer fans to attend from all over our state and region to the Midlands. This event highlights the collaborative spirit between the University, the city and the state.”
Manchester United is one of the most widely supported soccer teams in the world. United is a winner of a record 20 league titles and have won every major trophy in England and Europe.
“We had an incredible time during last year’s visit to the US and we are pleased to be returning with the men’s team to prepare for the 2024/25 season. The popularity of English football is continuously growing in the US, and we’ve come to expect passionate and enthusiastic support from our US fan base. They didn’t disappoint last year and everyone at the club is looking forward to reconnecting with those fans again this summer”, said John Murtogh, Football Director of Manchester United.
Liverpool F.C. will return to the United States of America for the first time in five years. One of the most popular and winning soccer teams, the club has won 19 domestic league titles, eight FA Cups, and six European Cups.
“Our supporters are in for a real treat…We know there are millions of super passionate American fans who love this club and what it stands for, many are members of one of the 67 official supporters clubs spread across the States,” said Ben Latty, Liverpool FC commercial director.
Event promoters TEG Sport (TEG) are very proud to bring Liverpool F.C. and Manchester United to the U.S., working alongside the University of South Carolina team.
“We are thrilled to be able to bring three of the top soccer teams in the world to the U.S. this summer to Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Columbia. We’ve had a lot of interest from fans wanting to know when tickets go on sale, so we encourage anyone interested in attending the matches live to make your arrangements to enjoy the action as soon as possible.” said Geoff Jones, CEO of TEG.
Presale opens Monday, February 26 at 9 AM and tickets for the general public will go on sale on Ticketmaster on Tuesday, February 27 at 9 AM. Presale codes will be sent out through various channels to those that qualify. Tickets are available online only on February 27, which is the first day of the general public on sale. Any remaining tickets for any event following the first day of general public ticket sales will be available for purchase online and at the Prisma Health Box Office on the next Ticket Tuesday.
“This event offers a rare opportunity to watch in person two of the best Premier League teams right here in Columbia,” University of South Carolina President Michael Amiridis said. “As a lifelong European football fan, I look forward to joining tens of thousands of spectators at Williams-Brice Stadium for a great match.”
“This historic event not only marks the first time our city welcomes such a prestigious game but also the inaugural international match at Williams-Brice Stadium,” said Chance Miller, Senior Deputy Athletics Director. “It showcases the excellence of the University of South Carolina, our world-class facilities, and passionate fan base, making Columbia an ideal host. This celebration highlights our city's growing prominence, emphasizing collaboration between the University, city, and state”
To stay up-to-date on all things related to the Rivals in Red Tour stop at Williams-Brice Stadium, visit GamecocksOnline.com/RivalsInRed.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Rivals in Red Tour Information/Credentials/etc:
Katie Walsh
On behalf of TEG Sport
Event or general inquiries:
Chanell Thomas
Director of Marketing & Sales, Colonial Life Arena
Inquiries for South Carolina Athletics alumni, current players, and staff:
Steve Fink
Associate Athletics Director, Communications & Public Relations
ABOUT THE RIVALS IN RED TOUR
The Rivals in Red Tour is a three city tour featuring Arsenal, Liverpool F.C. and Manchester United. Arsenal and Manchester United will face off on July 27 at Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles. On July 21, Liverpool and Arsenal will face off in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field and on August 3, Manchester United and Liverpool will face off at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC.
ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA ATHLETICS AND WILLIAMS-BRICE STADIUM
The University of South Carolina (USC), located in the capital city of Columbia, was established in 1801 and is a full-service, state-supported research university that includes the 358-acre Columbia campus and seven regional campuses with a total full-time student body population of more than 46,000 and 2,100 full-time faculty members. USC’s athletic teams have been known as the Gamecocks for more than 100 years. More than 530 student-athletes participate in one of USC’s 21 intercollegiate athletic programs, which includes nine men’s and 12 women’s sports. Since 2015-16, South Carolina’s athletics department has averaged a Top 30 finish in the Learfield Directors’ Cup All-Sports Standings, measuring an athletics department’s overall success.
Williams-Brice Stadium has a seating capacity of 77,559 and has been the home of Gamecock football since 1934. Gamecock football consistently ranks in the Top 20 of all college football teams in average home attendance. The stadium has also played host to concerts, filming of motion pictures, USC student activities and major speeches. This is the first time the stadium has hosted a professional soccer match.
ABOUT MANCHESTER UNITED
Manchester United is one of the most popular and successful sports teams in the world, playing one of the most popular spectator sports on Earth. Through our 145-year heritage we have won 66 trophies, enabling us to develop the world’s leading sports brand and a global community of 1.1 billion fans and followers. Our large, passionate community provides Manchester United with a worldwide platform to generate significant revenue from multiple sources, including sponsorship, merchandising, product licensing, new media & mobile, broadcasting and match day.
ABOUT LIVERPOOL F.C.
Founded in 1892, Liverpool FC is one of the world’s most historic and famous football clubs, having won 19 League Titles, including the Premier League, eight FA Cups, nine League Cups, six European Cups, three UEFA Cups, four European Super Cups, 16 Charity Shields, two Women’s Super League titles and one Women’s Championship.
As a socially responsible Club, Liverpool FC is proud of the work it does via the award-winning The Red Way, its ongoing commitment to creating a better future for its people, its planet and its communities. This includes efforts to improve club-wide sustainability, enhance Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all areas, and create life changing opportunities for children and young people in Merseyside and beyond thanks to its official charity, LFC Foundation.
ABOUT TEG SPORT
TEG Sport is a producer and promoter of live sporting events featuring the world’s biggest sporting teams and brands. TEG Sport is owned by TEG, a leading global live entertainment, ticketing, and technology business which operates worldwide out of seven country offices. TEG also includes TEG Live, TEG Experiences, TEG Dainty, TEG MJR, TEG Van Egmond, Laneway Festival, Handsome Tours, TEG Rockefeller, Qudos Bank Arena, Ticketek, Ticketek Marketplace, Eventopia, Softix, TicketCharge, TicketWorld, Ticketek Singapore and Ovation.
Life is Better Live. Whether it’s Sport, Concerts, Musicals, Theatre or Exhibitions, nothing beats the live experience! For more information www.teg.com.au
ABOUT LEFT FIELD LIVE
Left Field Live (LFL) is an international live sports events business created to help sports rights holders reach new and interesting markets. LFL has delivered events across a range of sports including rugby union, international soccer, ice hockey, basketball, college football and baseball into markets like Australia, North America, Asia, the Middle East, UK and Europe.
What they’re saying about the Rivals in Red Tour and Liverpool F.C. and Manchester United match-up at Williams-Brice Stadium:
“We had an incredible time during last year’s visit to the US and we are pleased to be returning with the men’s team to prepare for the 2024/25 season. The popularity of English football is continuously growing in the US, and we’ve come to expect passionate and enthusiastic support from our US fan base. They didn’t disappoint last year and everyone at the club is looking forward to reconnecting with those fans again this summer. Having secured some of the best sporting facilities the US has to offer, the club will create the optimum environment for the team to reconnect after their summer break, and work on match fitness before the start of the Premier League season. The quality of opponents lined up to play is at the highest level, giving the players an opportunity to gain valuable playing time, and for fans to see some of the most famous teams in world football playing live. As is the club’s tradition during preseason, we’re expecting this tour to not only help prepare our first team players, but also give some of our exciting up-and-coming Academy talent the opportunity to experience training and playing within a first team environment at some of the most impressive and historical US stadiums” - John Murtogh, Football Director of Manchester United.
“Our supporters are in for a real treat, with two massive games against two of our greatest rivals, these will be fantastic occasions in amazing settings and we can’t wait. “Our clubs are the three most popular Premier League teams in North America, a fact underlined in our televised game with Arsenal in December, which became the most watched Premier League game in US history. “We know there are millions of super passionate American fans who love this club and what it stands for, many are members of one of the 67 official supporters clubs spread across the States.” - Ben Latty, Liverpool FC commercial director
“We are excited to host two of the greatest sports brands in the world at Williams-Brice Stadium. We look forward to having this wonderful and historic match, bringing soccer fans to attend from all over our state and region to the Midlands. This event highlights the collaborative spirit between the University, the city and the state.” – Ray Tanner, University of South Carolina Athletics Director
“This event offers a rare opportunity to watch in person two of the best Premier League teams right here in Columbia. As a lifelong European football fan, I look forward to joining tens of thousands of spectators at Williams-Brice Stadium for a great match.” – Michael Amiridis, University of South Carolina President
"This historic match between two of the world's most prestigious soccer clubs will bring tens of thousands of fans to our state and further strengthen South Carolina’s international profile. Thank you to the University of South Carolina and all those involved in bringing the Premier League and the international spotlight that comes with it to South Carolina." – Henry McMaster, Governor of South Carolina
“As a City, we are extremely excited about the Premier League’s decision to partner with the University of South Carolina, Experience Columbia, the sports council and others to bring the World’s top soccer teams and players to play matches before thousands of fans in Williams-Brice Stadium in downtown Columbia! This collaborative effort benefits a Community, our City and the Palmetto State.”- Daniel Rickenmann, Mayor of Columbia, SC
"We're thrilled to host the clash between two historic clubs, Manchester United and Liverpool, in Columbia at Williams-Brice Stadium on August 3rd, 2024. This historic event not only marks the first time our city welcomes such a prestigious game but also the inaugural international match at Williams-Brice Stadium. It showcases the excellence of the University of South Carolina, our world-class facilities, and passionate fan base, making Columbia an ideal host. This celebration highlights our city's growing prominence, emphasizing collaboration between the University, city, and state." – Chance Miller, Senior Deputy Athletics Director, University of South Carolina
“Experience Columbia SC Sports is honored to be “The Official Destination Partner” of this once in a lifetime event. When approached with the opportunity to assist TEG Sports and the University of South Carolina with bringing this match to Columbia, it was an immediate yes for me. As a huge sports community, we have wrapped our arms around large events in the past, but the global reach and fanbase surrounding this sport and these teams generates the potential to make this the most impactful sporting event ever hosted in Columbia. We look forward to showcasing our destination to the fans of Man U and Liverpool and can’t wait to Paint the Town Red together come August 3rd.” - Scott Powers, Executive Director of Experience Columbia SC Sports.
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