Bundesliga International, DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga’s subsidiary responsible for international sales and marketing activities of the German top football leagues, is ready to make its mark in the United States and the Americas.

The Bundesliga will open a New York office Oct. 16, the organization’s second international branch, following the Singapore office launch in 2012. Bundesliga International wants to capitalize on the momentum, leveraging its reputation in the region to reach a larger audience and increase visibility, awareness and popularity.

“Bundesliga is football as it’s meant to be,” Bundesliga International CEO Robert Klein said. “It’s all about fast and modern football, the highest average attendance of all European top flights, the most modern stadiums as well as unique clubs with local heroes and tomorrow’s superstars. The regional head office Americas is the next logical step in expanding our presence in North, Central and South America to bringing our clubs, players and the Bundesliga experience even closer.”

The Bundesliga International Corporation office will launch with a team of five employees, two of which have already been secured. Arne Rees, who has more than 12 years of experience in the American market, has been appointed executive vice president strategy. He worked in several roles for ESPN, most recently as GM International Digital and head of strategy and business development for UEFA.

Melanie Fitzgerald, who was director international media at Major League Soccer, will be head of Bundesliga Americas.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.