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AC Milan is officially ready to land on the West Coast of the United States, where the Rossoneri will be the protagonists of a Pre-Season Tour in California and Nevada in preparation for the 2023/24 season – an important moment for the growth of the Club, both on and off the field, within the new chapter of development under the guidance of RedBird Capital Partners, controlling shareholder of AC Milan.
Coach Pioli’s team will have the opportunity to compete against some top European clubs participating in the Soccer Champions Tour 2023. This friendly tournament will see the Rossoneri take the field on 23 July at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena against Real Madrid – a prestigious friendly match between two of the most decorated clubs in the world. On 27 July, AC Milan will face Juventus at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles, and on 1 August, they will play against Barcelona at the modern Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
During their preparation in the United States, the players and the staff, led by Coach Pioli, will have access to state-of-the-art locations, services, and facilities, including the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, which will host the team’s training sessions throughout their American stay.
AC Milan’s departure to the first leg of the tour, California, was preceded by a special activation featuring a hot air balloon soaring through the skies of Los Angeles, carrying the Club’s badge and the iconic Rossoneri colours above the hills of Hollywood, one of the symbols of the Californian city.
Thanks to its presence in a strategic territory like the North American market, the Club has the opportunity to continue its growth journey, both commercially and in terms of brand strength, by strengthening relationships with various global partners – such as Principal Partners Emirates and PUMA – and expanding the AC Milan brand internationally. During the tour, the newly announced Sleeve Partner of the Rossoneri, MSC Cruises, will also make its debut on the red and black jersey. Another debut will be the new PUMA Away Kit, which was recently unveiled by the Club and will be used for the first time in the match against Real Madrid at the Rose Bowl. To celebrate the launch of the new kit, AC Milan and PUMA will host an exclusive event in Los Angeles that will highlight the close connection between football and fashion. The event will feature the participation of AC Milan players and local celebrities.
Through a series of institutional and business meetings, fan activities, and commercial initiatives, the tour aims to strengthen the Club’s presence in a region where interest in football is steadily growing, and where the AC Milan brand and colours enjoy great popularity, as demonstrated by numerical data. The Pre-Season Tour in the United States highlights the Club’s special bond with the country, where AC Milan has been considered the strongest Italian football brand for the past two years, according to international market research company YouGov, with over 43 million fans nationwide (Nielsen data). This connection is also demonstrated by the innovative partnership with the New York Yankees, bringing together two of the most iconic sports brands in the world. This strategic partnership stems from a longstanding relationship between Yankee Global Enterprises and RedBird Capital Partners, the controlling shareholder of AC Milan.
The journey to the United States will primarily be an important opportunity to engage AC Milan fans in a series of fan-centric initiatives. A Meet and Greet event will take place on 29 July at Niky’s Sports in Santa Monica, organized in collaboration with PUMA, where a number of Rossoneri players will be present.
Furthermore, thanks to the retail trailer accompanying the team during the three tour matches, fans attending the stadiums will have the chance to purchase official Club merchandise and personalize their jerseys, further immersing themselves in the Rossoneri family. Even from overseas, the Club will remain connected to its over 550 million fans worldwide through the creation of exclusive multimedia content by Milan Media House. These contents will engage Milan supporters every day across the Club’s official platforms.
Fans will be able to follow the journey of the Rossoneri in the United States through the official channels of the Club.
The AC Milan Pre-Season Tour 2023 underlines the special bond between the Rossoneri and the United States, where the Club will return after a pre-season tour in the summer of 2019. More recently, the Club has visited the United States on several occasions in the past year, including the AC Milan Trophy Tour in partnership with Emirates, and an institutional delegation led by President Paolo Scaroni, who was invited to speak at the Change the World Model United Nations conference in New York City.
Fans can find further information on the Soccer Champions Tour at www.SoccerChampionsTour.com.
