Lionel Messi is about to make his Major League Soccer (MLS) debut after putting on a brilliant performance in the knockout competitions. This weekend at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, Messi and Inter Miami will play the New York Red Bulls. Football fans eagerly anticipate seeing the phenomenal striker.
The magnitude of his following has caused ticket prices to soar to previously unheard-of heights. Tickets for Messi’s MLS debut game are reportedly approximately 1,000% more expensive than they typically are for New York Red Bulls games, according to CNN.
The news outlet was informed by ticket reseller VividSeats that the average cost of the MLS match between the New York Red Bulls and Inter Miami is $483. The astounding sum is significantly higher than the typical $46. The article also stated that certain first-row seats on VividSeats have exceeded the $3,600 threshold. The least expensive ticket might cost as little as $345.
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami league debut:
Lionel Messi’s eagerly anticipated MLS debut, according to a VividSeats spokesman, is “Trending as Red Bull’s hottest ticket in over a decade.” The second-most expensive ticket for a New York Red Bull game is estimated to be $270 for a match against Messi’s old team Barcelona in July 2022.
Marc de Grandpre, general manager of the Red Bulls, acknowledged that MLS does not typically see such massive numbers. “These are numbers we don’t see at an MLS match normally,” Grandpre was quoted as saying by CNBC.
After playing for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for two seasons, Messi completed his transfer to Inter Miami this summer. For the Herons, he has now scored 10 goals. The Argentine who won the World Cup will now try to repeat a similar performance in the American domestic league. Despite the fact that Messi hasn’t yet played in the league, the MLS has already reaped the rewards of the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s relocation to the United States.
Official Statement:
Camilo Durana, the executive vice president of club services and fan development at MLS, said, “I don’t want to say we misjudged Messi coming to the MLS, but it’s been extremely significant to our league across all points.”
The choice to sign Messi has already begun to pay off for Inter Miami, both on and off the pitch. According to CNBC, the Herons have improved their ticket sales since Messi joined the league, moving up from 13th place on StubHub, an online ticket marketplace.
In terms of accomplishments on the pitch, Messi just led Inter Miami to their first-ever Leagues Cup victory. Messi was crucial in advancing Inter Miami to the US Open Cup final. Messi will be greatly relied upon by Inter Miami, who are now last in the MLS Eastern Conference rankings, to turn around their domestic league woes.
So, this was all about Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami league debut. Also read, Decoding Lionel Messi’s dribbling magic.
