European Giants Chelsea FC and AC Milan to Face-off at Sun Life Stadium as Part of the World Football Challenge

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May 07, 2012, 12:47 ET

MIAMI, May 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The eyes of the soccer world will focus on South Florida again this summer when two of Europe's most storied clubs, England's Chelsea FC and Italy's AC Milan, face-off at Sun Life Stadium at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 28 as part of the World Football Challenge. The announcement was made by RSE Ventures, in partnership with CAA Sports, a division of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the world's leading entertainment and sports agency, and Major League Soccer (MLS), the top-flight professional soccer league in the U.S. and Canada. RSE Ventures also announced that Insignia Sports and Entertainment will be assisting with sponsorship and television elements associated with the highly-anticipated match. Details regarding media accreditation for the 2012 World Football Challenge will be announced the first week of June.

"We're excited to team up with CAA Sports and MLS to bring two of the most successful clubs in the world to Miami," said Matt Higgins, CEO of RSE Ventures. "We're pleased Chelsea FC and AC Milan are coming to the home of international soccer for an unforgettable match. Working with the Dolphins and Sun Life Stadium, we plan a full line up of summer soccer in what promises to be an annual tradition in Miami."

Tickets start as low as $29 and go on sale at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 10 through all Ticketmaster outlets. With this game, Sun Life Stadium continues to establish itself as South Florida's top venue for world-class international soccer. In August 2011, the FC Barcelona v. Chivas Guadalajara match drew 70,080 fans, setting a state attendance record for a soccer match. In February 2012, 51,615 saw Colombia take on Mexico.

"Miami is a soccer hotbed," said Mike Dee, CEO of the Miami Dolphins. "This announcement continues the tradition of bringing world-class events to our facility."

Chelsea FC, currently a finalist in the prestigious UEFA Champions League, will be visiting South Florida for the first time, led by international superstars such as Spanish forward Fernando Torres and English National Team standouts John Terry and Frank Lampard.

AC Milan last played in South Florida in 1994, when more than 57,000 fans saw them take on the Colombian National Team. The defending Italian champions boast a roster of top international stars, including Brazil's Robinho and Pato, and Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"We look forward to working with RSE Ventures, CAA Sports and Major League Soccer to help make a positive and tangible impact through creative and innovative branding around this great game," said Peter Murray, CEO of Insignia Sports and Entertainment. "The demand for soccer in South Florida is at an all-time high and the fan experience at this event will be second to none."

One of the largest and most successful soccer exhibitions ever staged in North America, the World Football Challenge brings together many of the world's most accomplished and celebrated soccer clubs to play in major sports venues across the region. The event gives soccer fans the unique opportunity to see global superstars play live and experience first-hand the fast-paced, skillful competition that has made soccer the most popular sport in the world. Now in its third year, the World Football Challenge is hosted in partnership by CAA Sports and MLS. More than half a million fans attended the event last year and sports fans across North America will once again enjoy a summer of top international matches in 2012.

About RSE Ventures

At RSE Ventures, we view the sports and entertainment industries through the prism of innovation and technology. Everything we do is based on not only what is happening in the market today, but what will happen in the coming months and years. We recognize that fans are increasingly adopting emerging digital platforms to enhance their experience of live events and get closer to their favorite players, entertainers, and teams. All of RSE's companies are dedicated to accelerating that process. The future of sports and entertainment is not coming. It's already here. RSE operates in four interrelated verticals: Sports, Entertainment, Digital, and New Ventures. Our growing roster of companies and events includes the NFL's Miami Dolphins, Insignia Sports & Entertainment, international soccer, and live, stadium-based entertainment.

About CAA Sports

CAA Sports represents more than 700 of the world's best athletes in such sports as baseball, football, hockey, basketball, soccer, tennis, and golf, in addition to coaches, on-air broadcasters, and sports personalities. Beyond traditional athlete representation, CAA Sports provides unique opportunities for clients off the field, in areas including licensing, endorsements, speaking, philanthropy, and video games. CAA Sports also works in the areas of broadcast rights, corporate marketing initiatives, and sports properties for sales/sponsorships. CAA Sports is a division of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the world's leading full-service agency. CAA represents the most creative and successful artists working in film, television, music, theatre, and video games, and provides a range of strategic marketing services to corporate clients. For more information about CAA Sports, visit www.sports.caa.com.

About Major League Soccer

Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. MLS features many stars from the U.S., Canada, and around the world. Major League Soccer's 17th season will feature 19 clubs. Those clubs include Chicago Fire; Chivas USA; Colorado Rapids; Columbus Crew; D.C. United; FC Dallas; Houston Dynamo; 2011 MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy; New York Red Bulls; New England Revolution; Philadelphia Union; Portland Timbers; Real Salt Lake; San Jose Earthquakes; Seattle Sounders FC; Sporting Kansas City; Toronto FC; Vancouver Whitecaps FC; and, in their inaugural season, Montreal Impact. For more information about MLS, log on to the League's official website at www.MLSsoccer.com.

About Insignia SE

At Insignia SE, we harness the power of sports and entertainment to transform brands and businesses. We are keenly focused on innovative content development and the creation of next generation consumer engagement technologies. We utilize our unparallel position at the intersection of sports, entertainment and technology to engage consumers, establish partnerships, build brands and drive revenue. For more information about Insignia SE, visit www.insigniase.com.

SOURCE RSE Ventures