With the European soccer season stretching into August due to the coronavirus, it’s been all too easy to forget the loss of the sport’s traditional summer staple — the international tour.
The annual excursions don’t only generate massive revenue for everyone involved — Barcelona received nearly $14 million for participating in the 2018 International Champions Cup, according to Der Spiegel — but offer clubs a chance to connect with loyal fans in far-flung corners of the world and engage with local stakeholders, sponsors and media.
But when the extent to which the pandemic would disrupt the sports world became apparent this winter, officials at Germany’s Borussia Dortmund realized that their plans for a summer tour of Asia — including potential stops in China, Singapore and Japan, as well as a first-ever visit by a legend’s team to India — would need to be shelved.