Manchester United, Club America soccer match to snarl West Valley traffic
Jul 18, 2018, 4:31 AM | Updated: Jul 19, 2018, 1:51 pm
(Facebook photos)
PHOENIX — Traffic in the West Valley is expected to be more congested than usual later this week.
Manchester United of England and Club America of Mexico will play one another in a soccer match at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale on Thursday.
“These are two of the biggest names in sport, and we couldn’t be more excited to have them here,” Andy Gorchov, general manager of the venue, told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Wednesday.
The Arizona Department of Transportation was advising drivers heading to the West Valley to be expect heavier traffic on the Interstate 10 and Loop 101 freeways during the afternoon and evening.
Drivers should allow themselves extra travel time and should consider moving west earlier in the afternoon.
They can use the Loop 101 west and south from Interstate 17 in the north Valley in an alternative to the westbound I-10.
While the game kicks off at 7 p.m., the stadium parking lot will open at 3 p.m. and the gates to the stadium will open at 5 p.m.
Tickets, ranging from $30 to $210, were available through Ticketmaster or at the game.
Club America has played at the stadium before, Gorchov said, but this is the first visit for Manchester United, 20-time champions at England’s highest level of soccer.
“For fans who have had the opportunity to attend a major international soccer tournament, I think that they will be very impressed,” Gorchov said. “It’s really got a special atmosphere.”
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Griselda Zetino contributed to this report.