On Saturday, Chelsea FC will take on Real Madrid at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It’s the second largest stadium in the world, and the biggest one outside North Korea. It’s home to Jim Harbaugh and his University of Michigan Wolverines.
Harbaugh will be there; probably.
The last time a soccer game was played at the venue commonly referred to as “The Big House” was August of 2014 between Real Madrid and Manchester United; and that match such a new record set for American single game soccer attendance.
Here’s a transcript, via ASAP Sports, of our Q&A with Jim Harbaugh today at Big Ten Media Day about the upcoming preseason friendly between the giant West London club and the Spanish team ranked by Fortune as the most valuable in the world.
Q. “Big event coming up Saturday at the Big House, Real Madrid versus Chelsea. Are you going to be available to attend? Your players? Is that a day off for you guys? Do you have a rooting interest in the match?”
COACH HARBAUGH: “I’ll be rooting for the team that plays the hardest to win. And I do believe I have a ticket to go to the game, unless they’ve given it away. But I did respond, RSVP’ed that I’d like to go to the game.”
So there you have it- Jim Harbaugh will be there, unless he’s not, but most likely yes. Harbaugh is the absolute emperor of Ann Arbor, if he wants a ticket to something he gets it. It’s just that he’s not going to be supporting the blues, or los blancos.
Coincidentally though, “Go Blue” is the Michigan battle cry.
After this exchange at media day, a representative from Michigan football communications did in fact inform this reporter that their leadership will be present at this soccer match.
So the party is on- expect lots of TweetPics and Instagrams.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication.
He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram