Soccer fans across North America are processing the shocking news that global superstar Lionel Messi is heading to Major League Soccer – but many are already shopping for tickets to see the Argentina star for his new club, Inter Miami CF. As a result, ticket prices for that South Florida club are surging – both for home games and contests that will bring the 7-time Ballon d’Or winner to other stadiums across North America in 2023.
After news began trickling out that Messi had chosen to come to Miami once his contract with Paris St.-Germain expires this summer, people were initially in disbelief that he would choose an MLS club over a return to longtime club FC Barcelona or a rumored big money offer from Saudi Al Hilal. But he confirmed the news himself speaking with media later in the day.
“I made the decision that I am going to go to Miami,” Messi told Sport and Mundo Deportivo, according to a report in the New York Times. “I still haven’t closed it 100 percent. I’m missing some things, but we decided to continue the path.”
The ? is coming. Millions of MLS fans all over the world welcome you, Leo.
Follow along for more. ? pic.twitter.com/NLzkatvwrC
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 7, 2023
The impact on the prices fans are willing to pay to see Inter Miami FC has been, predictably, immediate. Ticket prices for the rumored game where Lionel Messi will debut for his new club – a July 25 Leagues Cup contest at DRV PNK Stadium against Atlanta United FC have gone up by nearly $280 per seat at minimum – a cool 1,000% increase to the current “get-in” figure of $350 each. Seats at the midfield behind the team benches aren’t available for less than $900 each as of Wednesday afternoon.
Even games before Messi is likely to make it to this side of the Atlantic are seeing prices going higher than they have all season. The July 1 Inter Miami FC home game against Austin FC currently has a “get-in” price of $59 – more than double the get-in of less than 24 hours ago for the same game. Tickets in other markets are seeing even more significant surges. Want to see Lionel Messi lead the Inter Miami CF on the road against Los Angeles FC at BMO Stadium on September 3? The get-in price for that contest on our marketplace is a cool $617 per seat.
According to our sales data for this season, the highest average price paid for any Inter Miami FC home game this season prior to Wednesday’s news?
That would be $29.52 – which was the average price paid for Ticket Club members buying tickets to the March 25 contest against the Chicago Fire.
The increase has been dramatic, but it is worth mentioning that prices have surged even higher on other ticket resale marketplaces that don’t offer the pricing advantage that members at Ticket Club enjoy. The least expensive ticket available in resale through the team’s official box office/ticketing provider? $4,223.95 for two seats, which includes $621 per seat in service fees.
Those tickets are indeed premium, located in the first row of a midfield section, but a seat in an adjacent section (117 vs. 116) is available as of Wednesday afternoon for $367 at Ticket Club.
Shop for tickets to see Lionel Messi and his new MLS club Inter Miami FC at Ticket Club