GOOOOOAL! Miller Park to host Mexican soccer club match



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Milwaukee Brewers and Miller Park will host popular Mexican soccer club C.D. Guadalajara, affectionately known throughout the world as Chivas, and Swansea City A.F.C of the English Premier League on Wednesday, July 16, in what will be the first-ever professional soccer match at the stadium.

"We're always looking for unique events to come to Miller Park and soccer was one of the things we hadn't done yet, so to be able to add that, we know there's a strong base of soccer fans in the city and area," Brewers VP of Communications Tyler Barnes said.

Presented by Miller Lite, the event is part of the Chivas’ annual U.S. Tour, which includes four matches against some of the best teams from top soccer nations – Brazil, England, Germany and Mexico.

One of the most historic and successful clubs in Mexico, Chivas has captured 11 First Division titles in Liga MX and has raised two Copa México trophies.

Additionally, the 108-year-old team is the only club in Mexico to exclusively field Mexican players, a concept that has made Chivas a steady contributor of players to the Mexican National Team.

Standout players include Omar Bravo, Jesus Aldo DeNigris and Rafa Marquez Lugo.

The team is managed by Carlos Bustos.

Miller Park to host international soccer match



Established in 1912, Swansea City became the first Welsh team to play in the English Premier League after earning promotion in 2011.

In 2013 they won the Football League Cup Final, which earned them a spot in the 2013-2014 UEFA Europa League.

Swansea finished in 12th place in the EPL in the 2013-14 season and is led by Manager Garry Monk and Ivory Coast forward Wilfried Bony, the team’s top scorer with 17 goals.

Tickets for the match at Miller Park go on sale for the match on Thursday, May 22 at 10 a.m.

Ticket prices range from $25 - $70 and parking is $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the match.

Tickets are available online at brewers.com/soccer, in person at the Miller Park Box Office, and by phone at 414-902-4000.

The management at the Three Lions Pub in Shorewood is stoked for this event! In fact, Three Lions is busy -- planning a soccer outing!

"We decided to put together a trip down to Miller Park which would involve a whole package including the bus ride down, and beer included, game ticket, tailgate -- the whole package starting here from the pub and back," Three Lions Pub Manager Jamie Robertson said.

This soccer match will occur just three days after the World Cup Final!

"So it's probably when soccer is gonna be at its most popular of the year," Robertson said.

The pitch will be laid out in an east-west orientation with one goal in leftfield and the other goal near first base.

"You place it where it can be as large as it can possibly be. The stadium is obviously designed for baseball, but it's certainly adaptable to a number of other uses," Barnes said.

The guys at Three Lions Pub hope this first soccer match at Miller Park is a success -- because they say they want more.

"It's a brilliant thing and we hope that this will be the first of many huge soccer events in the Milwaukee area," Robertson said.

Three Lions Pub does have some experience planning these soccer match trips. They're taking about 150 people to Chicago for a Liverpool match later this summer.

Brewers officials say they aren't worried about the match tearing up the outfield -- saying last summer's Paul McCartney concert was much more challenging for the grounds crew.

The match will start at 8 p.m. and the gates to Miller Park will open at 6:30 p.m.  Parking lots will open at 5 p.m.

CLICK HERE to view the seating chart and prices.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Club Deportivo Guadalajara from Wikipedia.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Swansea City Association Football Club from Wikipedia.