Soccer Returns To M&T Bank Stadium
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The NFL season may be over, but in just a few weeks, a different kind of football will once again be taking over M&T Bank Stadium.
Monique Griego has more on the upcoming international soccer match-up.
Previous match-ups had thousands of fans packing into M&T Bank Stadium. Now, after a year's hiatus, European soccer is coming back to Baltimore.
"As soon as they notified us the game was on, we kind of went nuts and we're really looking forward to the game," said soccer fan Tom Gruhala.
The first match-up was back in 2009. Now on July 28, two Premier League teams, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, will face off where the Ravens usually play.
"There's a lot of fans out there. A lot of fans are interested in bringing European soccer--these great teams and clubs--over here," said Roy Sommerhof, Stadium Operations.
Sommerhof says the first game in 2009 was a sell-out.
"It was just like a Ravens game with 70,000 people in the stands, so we hope we'll get a great turnout here," Sommerhof said.
When the Ravens aren't playing, stadium officials say it's important to try and attract other big events to the city.
"These kind of events really help a lot of different entities," Sommerhof said. "It obviously adds economic revenue."
Tom Gruhala and his fellow football fans aren't planning to watch the game on TV. They can't wait to move their viewing party from a stool at Slainte in Fells Point to an actual seat in M&T Bank Stadium.
"I hope it builds more fans," said soccer fan Scooter Burton. "It is a great sport."
The soccer game is July 28 at 1 p.m. Tickets go on sale Tuesday through Ticketmaster.
