Intro:

Bayern Munich began to build its presence in the United States of America with the opening of the club's offices in New York on Thursday (31 July).

Script:

Following the team's 1-0 defeat of Mexico's Chivas Guadalajara in New Jersey, Bayern Munich hosted guests in the Midtown area of New York to celebrate the opening of their new North American office.

While the decision to expand internationally was made in July 2013, the opening comes at an opportune time for the club which boasts seven of Germany's World Cup winning squad in their ranks.

It is thought that by increasing their visual presence in the USA, Bayern can make both current and potential fans feel closer to the team while also providing a previously untapped revenue stream.

Although Bayern are the richest club in the Bundesliga, German clubs have yet to exploit the North American market in the same way that teams from England and Spain have done in recent years.

Real Madrid and Barcelona have both undertaken pre-season tours of the United States over the summer, while Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City have made the Premier League's presence felt.

The Bundesliga's global television deal with 21st Century Fox starts from the 2015-16 season.

The German champions are scheduled to play an MLS All-Star team on Wednesday, before returning to face Borussia Dortmund in the German Super Cup a week later.