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Thousands attend international soccer match uptown

CHARLOTTE — Businesses near Bank of America Stadium said they are profiting thanks to a swell in support for soccer. 

An announced crowd of 69,364 fans swarmed uptown on Saturday to watch Liverpool F.C. take on A.C. Milan as part of the International Champions Cup. Eyewitness News talked to fans who came from Hawaii, Canada and England just to watch the game.

"We know people in Charlotte and so I'm going to have a chance to look at the city which I'm really excited about and it looks like a great city," said Trish Cruise, visiting from Liverpool.

Many of the fans started rolling into restaurants and bars near the stadium around noon.

"[The numbers] have been booming, we've had (Charlotte) Knights baseball going on, (and) with the soccer crowd it's definitely been a benefit," said Matt Scott, a manager at The Upper Deck at Courtyard Hooligans.

The city declared the game an "extraordinary event." It allowed the city to set restrictions on what types of items can be brought in the area around the stadium.

Liverpool defeated A.C. Milan 2-0.