Union Jack Classic Founder Organizes Inaugural UK College Football Match in Memory of Daughter
Arizona State and Kansas will play the first US college football game held in Britain at Wembley Stadium.
In Brief
- •Arizona State and Kansas will play the first US college football game held in Britain at Wembley Stadium.
- •Match organizer Brian Dubiski brought the game to London while dedicating his work to crowd safety following the death of his 23-year-old daughter, Madison, at the 2021 Astroworld festival.
- •Wembley Stadium adopted safety protocols introduced by Dubiski, who serves as chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Union Jack Classic.
- •The landmark sporting event is expected to attract a crowd of approximately 60,000 spectators.
Why It Matters
The match represents a significant milestone in expanding American college football to international audiences, establishing a major transatlantic stage for collegiate sports. Beyond athletics, the event underscores ongoing efforts to reform stadium safety and crowd management protocols at major global venues following domestic safety failures in the United States.
Key Details
- Expected Attendance
- 60,000
- Participating Teams
- Arizona State vs. Kansas
- Venue
- Wembley Stadium, London
- Astroworld Fatalities
- 10 deaths from compressive asphyxiation
Context & Background
In November 2021, ten people were killed and nearly 5,000 injured during a severe crowd surge at Travis Scott's Astroworld festival in Houston. A subsequent 1,600-page police report concluded that the fatalities from compressive asphyxiation were preventable, spurring victims' families to advocate for heightened crowd management protocols at large-scale venues worldwide.
What To Watch
Arizona State and Kansas will play the historic college football match at Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Original Reporting & Sources
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