Tickets Go on Sale for Real Madrid, Inter Milan Match at Cal

Update: Tickets to the Real Madrid-Inter Milan match go on sale for the general public on Friday, May 16, at 9 a.m. PDT. Here's the link via Cal Athletics: Real Madrid CF vs. Inter Milan.

Original post: Two of the world's top soccer teams will play an exhibition match at UC Berkeley's Memorial Stadium this summer that could generate hundreds of thousands of dollars for the school.

Real Madrid (presumably with its megastar Cristiano Ronaldo) will take on Inter Milan on Saturday, July 26, as part of the Guinness International Champions Cup, a preseason stateside tournament.

Cal Athletic Director Sandy Barbour pointed to Memorial Stadium's recent $321 million renovation, saying the investment was crucial to attracting the clubs.

"Our ability to attract this event, and events like this one, continue to tell the story of why these facilities were necessary as well as advisable and how they contribute to the campus mission, vision and values," Barbour said Friday.

Charlie Stillitano, CEO of Relevent Sports, the company that organized the match, reinforced Barbour's message. He said the stadium sealed the deal.

"Like nothing I've ever seen, this is one of the most beautiful stadiums I've ever seen, and I've been all over the world," he said.

Berkeley Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance John Wilton said the university is guaranteed $100,000 from the game, and up to eight times that amount if the game sells out. Wilton said a quarter of the money will go to Berkeley's general academic scholarship fund.

Tickets to the match will be available to qualified pre-sale buyers starting May 12 and to the general public May 16.