Trophy Tour a big hit in Brazil

The opening leg of the UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour to Latin America was a resounding success – with 12,000 fans visiting the tour exhibition in Sao Paulo, Brazil, over the weekend. The Trophy Tour is presented by Heineken.

Photos and autographs
The fans turned up in droves to see the exhibition in a specially built 2,200 square-metre tent. They came to have photographs taken with the trophy and to have autographs signed by former Brazil stars Bebeto, Mauro Silva and Paulo Sergio.

Champions Gallery
Visitors were queuing at one stage for two hours to see the Champions Gallery – a five-screen, 23-minute movie showing the history of European club football's premier competition – to do football quizzes online, and to play on the indoor mini-pitch provided.

Tour schedule
Following the Sao Paulo leg, the UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour moves to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (23/24 February); Buenos Aires, Argentina (6 March); Santiago, Chile (15/16 March); Mexico City, Mexico (5/6 April); and Monterrey, Mexico (12/13 April).

Trophy display
In each country, the UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour will be launched with a press conference involving a Trophy Tour ambassador – normally an ex-player – and local celebrities. The silverware will then be the centrepiece of a display together with signed football memorabilia and other football activities, including the exclusive chance for invitees to be photographed with the trophy in a central location of the city.

Widely followed
The UEFA Champions League is widely followed in Latin American countries and the opportunity to experience the famous prize up close is enabling local supporters to sample the magic of the competition. Heineken is sponsoring the UEFA Champions League for the third successive year and wants to share this unique tournament with fans all over the world.

UEFA Champions League awareness
According to recent research, awareness of the UEFA Champions League is as high in some countries in Latin America – eg 95 per cent in Brazil and 85 per cent in Mexico – as it is in Europe, where awareness levels are 95 per cent. Trophy Tour details are available from the Further Information box on the UEFA Champions League home page. Click here.