MLS Toronto FC

Toronto FC to Host Spanish Giants Real Madrid

Published on June 4, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Toronto FC News Release


Toronto FC announced today that it will host legendary Spanish club Real Madrid in an international friendly this summer. The match is scheduled for Friday, August 7 at 7:30pm at BMO Field.

"We're excited to have Toronto FC and the city of Toronto host one of the storied soccer clubs in the world for this special event," said Tom Anselmi, executive vice-president and chief operating officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. "This game will be a great experience for all Toronto soccer fans --- watching Toronto FC go up against one of the world's great clubs in one of the most intimate soccer stadiums in North America." Anselmi added that the club needed to invest close to $250,000 to add a temporary grass surface on top of BMO Field's existing FieldTurf for this special event.

Ticket information for the Real Madrid game will be released Monday, June 8; however, Toronto FC season-seat holders and members of both the Gold and Red waiting lists will each have an advanced window with which to purchase tickets at a special loyalty price. Information regarding date and time of each pre-sale window will be sent directly to these groups.

Real Madrid, the most successful team in Spanish football, was voted by FIFA as the most successful club of the 20th century in December 2000. Appropriately nicknamed Los Galacticos (The Superstars), Madrid has won an astounding number of championships in it's 100+ year history - a record 31 La Liga titles (Spanish first division), 17 Spanish Cups, and a record nine European Cups (now referred to as UEFA Champions League) and two UEFA Cups (now referred to as UEFA Europa League).

Since 1947, the Madrid-based giants have called the 80,000+ seat Santiago Bernabéu stadium as home and unlike most European clubs, Real Madrid has been owned and operated by the members of the club since its inception.

Founded in 1902, Real Madrid has spent all of its illustrious history in the top division of Spanish soccer and has had some of the greatest names in the world don its famous all-white uniform - players such as current club captain and all-time Real Madrid goal scorer Raul, current vice-captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, David Beckham, Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos, Hugo Sanchez, Ferenc Puskas, and Alfredo Di Stefano to name but a few.

As a result of the Real Madrid game, the previously scheduled Major League Soccer match against the New York Red Bulls on August 9 has been moved to Saturday, June 13 at 8pm.

For more information regarding tickets please visit www.torontofc.ca or call the Toronto FC GOAL line at +1-416-360-GOAL (4625).

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