Miami has been bracing for the arrival of global soccer superstar Lionel Messi since it was reported in June that the Argentinian forward would join the MLS. Fans will finally get to see Messi in action after weeks of hype, with the 36-year-old taking the pitch for the first time Friday with his new club, Inter Miami.
All the fanfare and excitement around Messi’s U.S. debut have translated to dollars, as ticket prices for Miami’s Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul at DRV PNK Stadium have skyrocketed (by as much as 1,000%, per Forbes). Seats have been in high demand since rumors of the deal emerged, culminating with the club officially announcing Messi’s historic signing on July 15.
The get-in price for Friday’s matchup is $342, per SI Tickets, granting spectators access to corner sections of the venue which were added for Messi’s highly-anticipated debut. DRV PNK Stadium has a capacity of 18,000, with the corner bleachers increasing that number by 3,000 fans, per The Athletic.
For supporters happy to shell out some serious cash to get the best look at the World Cup winner, seats are available for up to $3,359 on SI Tickets.
"I'm very excited to start this next step in my career with Inter Miami and in the United States," said Messi in a statement via Leagues Cup. "This is a fantastic opportunity and together we will continue to build this beautiful project. The idea is to work together to achieve the objectives we set, and I'm very eager to start helping here in my new home."
Messi has already proved to have impressive staying power beyond his inaugural match, with his MLS debut circled on the calendar for August 20 against Charlotte. Seats to the game are available starting at $311 and topping out at $2,353 on SI Tickets.
All this talk of revenue is put into perspective, considering Messi’s contract with the MLS club is reportedly worth between $50 million and $60 million.
