Manchester United return to the USA in 2004 for three pre-season games

Manchester United announced today that the club will return to the United States for three pre-season games next summer. The visit was announced at a press conference at NikeTown in New York by Sir Alex Ferguson and Charles Stillitano, chairman of ChampionsWorld, New Jersey based sports promotions company.

The 2004 ChampionsWorld Series will take Manchester United to Chicago for the first time. The match will take place at Soldier Field, the newly renovated American football stadium beside Lake Michigan. Ferguson will then lead his team back into the New York area for a match at Giants Stadium. Last summer, the Manchester United-Juventus game drew 79,000 fans, the largest soccer crowd for that stadium. The venue for the third game is yet to be confirmed. United will play top class continental European teams, and the Club's opponents will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

David Gill, Manchester United's chief executive, said: "We are thrilled to be returning to the United States for such significant matches next year. The passion for football and the enthusiasm for Manchester United that greeted us last summer during our visit to the USA was simply overwhelming, and we are keen to experience the American warmth and sports atmosphere once again. And the chance to play three top teams just adds spice to the adventure."

Charles Stillitano, whose ChampionsWorld company staged eight major matches in the USA last summer including the four games on United's 2003 summer tour, said: "The dynamism and fame of teams such as Manchester United ignite the soccer fans of America. Soccer is a major part of American society nowadays, and big events such as the Manchester United matches provide the fans with lifetime memories and a chance to see the exploits of so many world-famous athletes in person."

Exact dates for United's 2004 pre-season games will be confirmed in due course, but the games are likely to be held between the end of July and early August.

Source: Communications Department, Manchester United PLC