Tickets for the highly anticipated first match of the Argentine idol this Friday (21) with Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup are being sold for up to $110,000, according to a survey on the ticket resale site Vivid Seats. This is one of the most expensive ticket prices ever recorded for an MLS team.
Prices for some seats skyrocketed after the soccer star officially signed with the Major League Soccer team on Saturday (15), in a deal valued between $50 and $60 million per year.
But don’t be discouraged! There are still much cheaper options available for Friday’s game. The average price is $487, and some fans are traveling nearly 1,100 kilometers to watch the match against the Mexican team Cruz Azul. Last year, tickets for the match between Inter Miami and FC Barcelona in the Leagues Cup cost about half of that.
Meanwhile, prices for Messi’s MLS debut on August 20 against Charlotte average $288, according to Vivid Seats. Overall ticket prices for Inter Miami, currently at the bottom of the standings, have already increased by about 700% since Messi’s arrival was announced.
Messi, 36, is one of the most decorated athletes of all time. He has won the Ballon d’Or seven times and was part of the Argentine national team that became world champions last year. His deal with Inter Miami includes an option for partial ownership of the club and a percentage of revenue generated from new subscribers to Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass streaming service, according to reports on the negotiation.
At a welcome event on Sunday, Messi said he is “very excited” to be in Miami. “I come with the same desire to compete, the desire to win, and to help the club continue to grow,” he said in a packed stadium.
The “Messi mania” extends beyond the field. Hard Rock Cafe revealed last week the “Messi Chicken Sandwich,” which is a crispy fried chicken breast Milanese-style topped with melted provolone. The sandwich is already on sale at the chain’s restaurants.
Source: CNN