Lionel Messi, the legendary Argentine footballer, is a force to be reckoned with on the pitch. Messi's remarkable talent and unrivaled skill set have made him a household name in the world of soccer. With his lightning-fast dribbling, precise ball control, and exceptional playmaking abilities, Lionel Messi has consistently dominated matches and left fans in awe. His ability to effortlessly navigate through defenses, create scoring opportunities, and score goals with precision has cemented his status as one of the greatest players of all time. Whether it's his unmatched vision, impeccable technique, or innate understanding of the game, Lionel Messi's contributions to the sport have been nothing short of extraordinary. With each match, Lionel Messi continues to showcase his brilliance, leaving a lasting impact on the sport and etching his name in football history.
Lionel Messi's arrival in Miami has created a frenzy in the MLS ticket sales market. Just three days after the soccer legend announced his move to Inter Miami FC from Paris Saint-Germain, ticket prices across the league have skyrocketed. According to StubHub, the secondary ticket market, sales for Inter Miami's matches starting in July have surged by almost 28 times since the announcement. In fact, ticket sales for matches from July 2023 onwards have already surpassed the total tickets sold for the entire 2022 season compared to the same time last year. The opportunity to witness Messi, widely recognized as one of the greatest soccer players in history and a recent World Cup winner, comes at a premium price.
Ticket prices for Inter Miami FC, the team owned by David Beckham, have experienced a significant surge following Lionel Messi's announcement. On StubHub, average ticket prices have increased by 4.5 times, jumping from $24.52 to $124.51 since the news broke. Vivid Seats, another secondary ticket site, reported a staggering 1,021% increase in average prices for a Leagues Cup match between Cruz Azul and Inter Miami. A ticket that initially cost $122 shot up to $1,413 in just six days.
In a matter of days, Inter Miami has climbed the ranks from being the seventh-highest selling team of the 2023 season to the fourth-highest selling team for season sales on StubHub. However, the surge in demand comes with limitations due to the stadium's capacity. With only 18,000 seats available, there is a fundamental supply and demand imbalance, especially when compared to European stadiums like Barcelona's with 100,000 seats. This scarcity has further fueled the increased ticket prices.
Despite sitting in last place in the MLS' Eastern Conference and currently in search of a new coach after parting ways with Phil Neville, the impact of Lionel Messi's arrival is not limited to Miami. Other teams in the league are also experiencing a surge in ticket sales.
According to Adam Budelli, a spokesperson for StubHub, Messi's presence is expected to attract soccer fans from across the country, similar to the effect big stars have in the NFL and NBA. A notable upcoming match is when Messi and Inter Miami visit LAFC at SoFi Stadium on September 3. Sales for this match have skyrocketed, moving from the 15th highest-selling event of the season to the second, and it's on track to become the top event of the entire LAFC season, based on StubHub data.
In addition to the surge in ticket sales, merchandise for Inter Miami FC is also experiencing a significant boost in Miami. Even though official Messi jerseys are not yet available, fans are eagerly purchasing team gear.
According to Fanatics, the digital sports platform, the sales of Inter Miami merchandise since Wednesday have surpassed the combined sales of the previous two months. In fact, Inter Miami has become one of the top five selling teams across all sports on the Fanatics network.
Furthermore, Inter Miami is capitalizing on its future global fanbase. The team recently filed a trademark application on June 5 for the phrase "LIBERTAD PARA SOÑAR," which is the Spanish translation of their slogan "Freedom to Dream," as stated by trademark attorney Josh Gerben from Gerben Law.
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