Premier League to stage 20 North American opening-weekend watch parties

The Premier League will stage a Coast to Coast series of free opening-weekend watch parties across North America for all 20 clubs from 21 to 24 August.

According to NY Times, events will run in 16 US cities plus Toronto, timed to coincide with Ed Sheeran’s tour. The singer is a minority shareholder in Ipswich Town.

Arsenal’s event is at McGregor Square in Denver. Liverpool will gather outside Boston’s Fenway Park, with Leeds United represented in San Francisco. Chelsea are in Dallas, Manchester United and Crystal Palace in New York, and Newcastle United in Newark, New Jersey.

Manchester City’s event is in Washington, D.C. as the Enzo Maresca era begins against Bournemouth, who are in Tampa. Brighton and Hove Albion are in Kissimmee, while opponents Aston Villa are in Chicago, alongside Nottingham Forest.

In Canada, Sheeran plays Rogers Centre on 20, 21 and 22 August, with the matchday gathering on the final date. His local club Ipswich Town prepare for their Premier League return after last season’s promotion.

Coventry City celebrate their top-flight return in Detroit, while Hull City head to Cincinnati. Brentford and Fulham are in Atlanta, Everton are in Houston, Tottenham Hotspur are in Austin and Sunderland are in Nashville.

The programme follows 12 Premier League Mornings Live festivals with US partner NBC, piloted in November 2017 then launched in September 2018. World Cup audiences in the United States hit records, including 38.9 million for the final on Fox and 23.9 million on Telemundo.

Source: NY Times