The New York Mets announced on Tuesday Olympiacos, winner of 40 league titles, will play A.C. MilanOlympiacos,, winner of a record 18 Serie A titles, at Citi Field on Thursday, July 24 at 8:00 p.m. This match will mark Olympiacos’s first New York Area appearance in 27 years.
Tickets go on sale this Thursday, March 13 at 10:00 a.m. at Mets.com/Soccer, Tickets.com and (718) 507-TIXX. Mets Season Ticket Holders, Plan Holders, Suite Holders and sponsors will be able to participate in an exclusive presale starting today at 1:00 p.m.
The game, which will take place rain or shine, will be broadcast internationally on FOX Sports 1.
One of the most successful teams in all of Europe, Olympiacos has won a total of 40 league titles and 26 Greek Cup titles. The club recently reached the Round of 16 of the 2013-14 UEFA Champions League where it won its first leg against giants Manchester United 2-0.
Coached by Spain and Real Madrid legend Michel, the club’s diverse roster includes former Barcelona striker Javier Saviola, Greek defender Aavram Papadopolous and Paraguayan striker Nelson Haedo Valdez.
“It is with great pleasure that the administration, technical leadership and we the players of Olympiacos, await the match against A.C. Milan,” said Papadopoulos, Olympiacos’s squad captain. “We are delighted to be playing against a historic rival in front of thousands of fans, most of which will be Greek expatriates. We promise to honor their turnout and offer a beautiful spectacle to all of those who really love football!”
One of the world’s most popular and storied clubs, A.C. Milan has won seven UEFA Champions League titles and four world club titles. The club’s mark of 18 international trophies is tied for the most by any club in the world. Furthermore, the “Rossoneri” currently boast some of the game’s top talent in players like Mario Balotelli, Kaka and recently-signed Japanese star Keisuke Honda.
New York boasts thriving Greek and Italian populations. Astoria, Queens has the largest population of Greeks outside Greece and New York City has the most Italian-Americans in the U.S.
The Olympiacos-A.C. Milan contest continues the soccer tradition at Citi Field. Metropolitan Hospitality, Citi Field’s non-game day event company, has produced international soccer games for the past three years. The national teams of Ecuador and Greece battled to a 1-1 tie in front of a near-capacity crowd of 39,656 in the ballpark’s inaugural soccer match in June 2011. Later that year, Juventus beat Club America 1-0. In 2012, Ecuador returned to Citi Field and defeated Chile, and last year Israel shut out Honduras 2-0.
The match is part of Guinness International Champions Cup, a unique tournament promoted by Relevant Sports, a division of RSE Ventures, featuring eight of the world’s best and most recognizable soccer clubs: Real Madrid CF, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool FC, AS Roma, Inter Milan, A.C. Milan and Olympiacos. Twelve round robin contests will be hosted across North America with matches in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Charlotte, Denver, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, Dallas and one additional city from July 24-August 2. The tournament will crown an overall champion Monday, August 4 at Miami’s Sun Life Stadium.
Fans will have the opportunity to purchase an Ultimate Fan Pack which includes one supporters section ticket, team gear and priority access to select team training. Also available are VIP Team Travel Packs that allow fans to experience the games alongside their favorite teams, providing VIP tickets, charter travel and world-class accommodations to all of their teams’ Guinness International Champions Cup games.
For more information on the full Guinness International Champions Cup, including tickets and packages, the tournament bracket and team information, visit www.internationalchampionscup.com.