Organisers of July’s International Champions Cup at the MCG – featuring Real Madrid, Manchester City and Roma – have praised Australia as a growing international football destination.
The inaugural Australian ICC tournament is to be played from July 18-24 at the iconic Melbourne sporting venue.
Organisers are planning an ICC tournament in Australia for the next three years, and with strong ticket sales for July’s event, it demonstrates Australia's insatiable appetite to see the world’s biggest and best football clubs.
The ICC concept is the brainchild of US property tycoon Stephen Ross, the billionaire owner of a US NFL club Miami Dolphins.
Speaking with The Australian Financial Review, Patrick Murphy CEO of Catalyst Media, the Hong Kong-based company and subsidiary of Ross’s RSE Ventures which is developing the ICC concept in this region, was bullish about the future of such tournaments in Australia.
"We know there are some other strong codes here but football does seem to be growing,” he told The Australian Financial Review.
"There is a minimum four-year deal in Australia but we see it as a long-term investment.”
There will also be a separate ICC event in China this year.
In the last two years Australia has hosted Liverpool, Manchester United and Juventus. Huge crowds have greeted these tours with Liverpool in particular catching the eye of the world with over 95,000 fans witnessing the MCG game in 2013.
“China is the biggest market in the region naturally. With Australia, there is wonderful sporting infrastructure, great fans and the experience of running major events."
He added: "These matches are what would only happen in the [UEFA] Champions League.”
The ICC tournament is one part of the biggest ever off-season for football fans in Australia.
Liverpool will return and are due to play two games against Hyundai A-League clubs Adelaide and Brisbane also in July. And EPL club Spurs face Sydney FC at ANZ Stadium on May 30.