September 14 – LigaMX clubs Cruz Azul and Club Atlas will play a friendly in San Antonio, Texas, at the Toyota Field October organised under the MoneyGram SocioMX banner.
This is the first time stadium owners Spurs Sports & Entertainment (SS&E) have hosted a major game that hasn’t been a home match of USL franchise San Antonio FC and indicates an increased ambition in football for the company that owns and operates the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs who play at the AT&T Center, which it also manages.
The MoneyGram SocioMX Tour brings top Mexican League teams to play in the US, tapping into the local Mexican American support and football community.
Cruz Azul have won eight LigaMX titles in Mexico, the third highest in the league’s history, as well as a record six CONCACAF Champions League titles, the latest in 2013-14. Less decorated Club Atlas are celebrating their centenary season. They have won one LigaMX championship and are four-time winners of the Copa MX tournament.
With only 8,200 seats to fill, the organisers (the match is being promoted by Sports Marketing Monterrey) are unlikely to have to much difficulty filling the stadium, but what is perhaps more significant is the intention to bring top tier football to San Antonio.
SS&E have previously been connected with an MLS franchise application in an expansion of their major league sports operations.
“This is an exciting event that we are able to host here at Toyota Field,” said Director of Toyota Field Dave Susi. “The match between Cruz Azul and Atlas marks the first event we are hosting outside of San Antonio FC matches this season, and we are looking forward to this and other potential upcoming events at Toyota Field in the future.”
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