FC Barcelona all set for kickoff in New York City

Everything is in place for the official opening of FC Barcelona's office in the United States, which will take place on Tuesday, September 6 and will be attended by a wide number of Club representatives, headed by President Josep Maria Bartomeu, who will be accompanied by First Vice President Jordi Cardoner and Vice Presidents Jordi Mestre and Manel Arroyo. They will arrive in Manhattan on Monday along with the former player Ronaldinho who, acting as the Club's football representative, will be featured in many of the events taking place in the coming days in New York.

The first days of the Club's new office includes a busy schedule of events consisting of institutional, social, and community-related activities beginning on Tuesday at 10:00 am with the FutbolNet Social Festival at Middle School 129 in the Bronx. The event will feature more than two hundred children from public schools in New York, who will take the field with Ronaldinho. FC Barcelona women's football player Line Røddik Hansen will also participate in this event.

At the same time as the event in the Bronx, Vice President Arroyo will attend a private lunch with businesspersons at 21 Club, one of Manhattan's most iconic restaurants. 21, as it is also known, is famous for its entrance staircase, which has a line of miniature, cast iron statues of horse-racing jockeys.

The main event of the day will be the inauguration of the Club's new American headquarters, which will be attended by the President and Vice Presidents, with Ronaldinho again playing a special role. The Brazilian will be the master of ceremonies of the event, which will officially open FC Barcelona's American odyssey.

This event will be attended by a select group of individuals and local authorities. The guest list includes the American Ambassador to Spain, Mr. James Costos; the commissioner of the MLS (Major League Soccer), Don Garber; the New York City Schools Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, Carmen Fariña; and New York City Police Commissioner, William Bratton. Also attending will be some of New York's most renowned Catalan residents, such as the cardiologist Valentí Fuster and Cristina Gallach, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information.

After the opening ceremony there will be a reception held for the guests at Mad 46, located near the office.

Activities will continue Wednesday with a meeting with UNICEF at the headquarters of the United Nations; a reception with the Penya FCBarcelona NYC at Smithfield Hall; and a visit to Nike Town, among other events.

Events scheduled for Tuesday. All times are in Eastern Standard Time. (CET-6)

• 12.30pm        Private lunch with American businesspersons at Club 21

• 1.00pm          FutbolNet Social Festival at Middle School 129, The Bronx

• 5.30pm          Official inauguration of FC Barcelona office in New York

(Due to limitations on space, entry to this event is restricted. The Club’s media will be offering image and audiovisual material about the event to members of the press.)

• 6.30pm          Post-inauguration reception for guests at Mad 46

All events taking place in New York can be followed on Barça TV, as well as on the Club website.