LONDON (Alliance News) - TLA Worldwide PLC Wednesday said it had signed a deal to bring the International Champions Cup football tournament to Asia Pacific from 2015 to 2018, a move that it expects to impact its results from next year.
The deal means that the tournament will be played outside the US for the first time since it started in 2013. It mainly involves European teams who use the tournament as part of their pre-season warm-up schedules. The 2014 tournament takes place from July 24 to August 4 and involves Greece's Olympiacos, Spain's Real Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Roma of Italy, and Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool from England.
Sports marketing company TLA Worldwide said it has signed a deal with RSE Ventures Inc to bring the competition to Asia-Pacific, and has teamed with Australian media and entertainment company Nine Entertainment Co to organise and promote it. Participating teams and the host country for the tournament will be announced in due course, it said.
"Whilst not benefiting the current financial year, the board expects the partnership with Nine Events and the agreement with Relevent Sports to have a materially positive impact on our results from next year," TLA said in a statement.
"With this agreement TLA has made a significant move to diversify its activities into the world's most popular sport," TLA Chairman Bart Campbell said.
The deal comes a week after TLA Worldwide said it was appointed the commercial agent for the USA v New Zealand All Blacks fixture at Soldier Field, Chicago in November by USA Rugby.
By Steve McGrath; stevemcgrath@alliancenews.com; @SteveMcGrath1
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