NASHVILLE – Former Sunderland AFC ace Stefan Schwarz will be part of a first-of-its-kind Premier League initiative to connect with US fans through free activations and watch parties spanning 15 cities during the opening weekend of the 2026-27 season (August 21-24). Premier League ‘Coast to Coast’ will celebrate football, community, and club pride, bringing the excitement of Premier League matchdays directly to fans in the U.S.
Sunderland’s watch party, on Saturday 22 August (doors open 8am), at Fogg Street Lawn Club, will bring together new and long-time supporters to see the Black Cats take on Ipswich Town on the opening weekend, as part of a bespoke club event in Nashville.
Hot-on-the-heels of the club’s successful pre-season tour of North America this summer, the Sunderland masses will flock to Music City once again, for an opening day watch party, hosted by Sirius XM’s Chris Childers.
A local musician Amy Alexander will be bringing the vibes, while Monster, an official partner of the club, will be on site activating, with samples for fans and giveaways throughout the day.
And Schwarz – who made 73 appearances for Sunderland between 1999 and 2003 on Wearside – will be on hand to sign autographs and pose for selfies, on what promises to be a day to remember for Black Cats fans over the pond!
The watch parties and events will create a unique start to the new season, bringing fans closer to Premier League clubs while building on the success of the 2025/26 Premier League season, which was the most-watched ever in the United States across the NBC Broadcast Network with an average total audience of 1.2 million viewers.
‘Coast to Coast’ also follows on from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Premier League clubs contributed more players to the tournament than clubs from any other league in the world, including a club record 12 from Sunderland. It is the latest example of the Premier League’s ongoing commitment to bringing unique experiences to passionate fans across the United States, building on two Premier League Summer Series pre-season tournaments and 12 Premier League Mornings Live Fan Festivals.
Stefan Schwarz said: “I’ve heard so many positive things about Sunderland’s pre-season tour of North America, so I’m hugely excited about representing the club at Coast to Coast for the opening weekend of the new campaign.
“Strengthening Sunderland’s presence in the US, in particular in Tennessee, is key for the club’s international ambitions, and this event will provide another gateway for that.”
Sunderland fans can tune in to watch all Premier League Season 2026/27 matches live across the platforms of NBCUniversal and Versant’s USA Network.
About the Premier League
The Premier League produces some of the most competitive and compelling football in the world. The League and its clubs use the power and popularity of the competition to inspire fans, communities and partners in the UK and across the world. The Premier League brings people together from all backgrounds. It is a competition for everyone, everywhere and is available to watch in 900 million in 189 countries.
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