Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami landed Argentine superstar Lionel Messi a few weeks ago after winning the race against Al Hila and Barcelona for his signature.
Messi has not yet even kicked a ball for Inter Miami but they are already reaping the fruits of his contract, financially. The club’s matchday tickets are selling at as high as £16,000 for a single seat as fans scramble to have a glimpse of the World Cup winner in the USA.
Messi is expected to make his debut for David Beckham’s Inter Miami on July 21 in a League Cup match against Cruz Azul. According to The Miami Herald, ticket prices for the match have increased a remarkable 1,034 per cent.
The publication also said that Inter Miami are planning to increase the seating capacity of their DRV PNK Stadium to 22,000 by August this year so they can fully capitalize on Messi’s fan demand.
It is not only Messi’s Inter Miami that will benefit from his arrival in Major League Soccer. Away clubs have also seen the demand for their tickets rise and so have the prices, especially the matches against Inter Miami.
Charlotte FC, who will play Inter Miami at home on October 22 this year saw their tickets get sold out for the match in just three hours, at a price increase of 1000 per cent. Charlotte FC’s Bank of America stadium has a capacity of 74,867.
Another MLS side Atlanta United announced it will be selling 71,000 tickets when they host Miami at their Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 17, 2023.
