31 July 2023 , 08:00
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Ticket sales for Manchester United 's final US tour game were alarmingly low, despite a big marketing push along the famous Las Vegas Strip.
Electronic billboards advertising United's clash with Borussia Dortmund at the 61,000-capacity Allegiant Stadium could be found all around Vegas, at resort hotels including the Bellagio. Despite the late push to increase ticket sales, the attendance for the encounter, at the home of NFL side the Las Vegas Raiders, was well short of capacity, with great swathes of empty seats.
But among the crowd at the Allegiant Stadium was Hollywood star Dominic Monaghan, a lifelong United fan. Lord of the Rings star Monaghan, who grew up in Stockport but now lives in Los Angeles, goes to Old Trafford to watch United whenever he is back in the UK. The 46-year-old, who also starred in Lost, was at United's team hotel in Las Vegas before the game, having flown there from Florida, where he was filming.
Andre Onana, United's new first-choice goalkeeper, was down on the team-sheet as 'Andrew', while several United staff, including Chief Operating Officer Colette Roche, took the opportunity to watch Katy Perry in concert at her residency at Resorts World Theatre, just off the strip.
Ten Hag's meticulous approach is well-known, but even he surprised members of staff with his recent demand at a tour game.
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The United boss is a stickler for detail and told a member of staff the grass on a certain pitch was too long – 23mm instead of 22mm – before demanding it was cut to the correct height.
Harry Maguire lost his United place and the captaincy to Bruno Fernandes, but suffered a further blow to his pride when Scott McTominay was handed the armband ahead of him in Vegas. It was another slap in the face for Maguire, who has fallen to fifth-choice centre-back at United, behind Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw, who has been preferred in central defence to his England colleague.
What have you made of Man Utd's tour performances? Have your say in the comments section
Scott McTominay, not Harry Maguire, captained Man Utd against Dortmund (AP)United also raised their fan engagement activities in the US, with 23 supporter or Foundation events, which drew 4,750 fans.
Six new Official Manchester United Supporters’ Clubs were launched across the US – in Houston, New Jersey, San Francisco, Orlando, Pittsburgh and Detroit.
United gave away 500 bucket hats, 50 signed shirts and thousands of photos and autographs in a concerted effort to connect with their Stateside fanbase, a move endorsed by boss Erik ten Hag.