Ticket prices for Inter Miami matches have surged following reports that soccer superstar Lionel Messi will leave Paris Saint-Germain and join the MLS club. The cheapest available ticket for Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul on July 21, which is expected to be Messi’s first match with the club, jumped from $29 to $329 within hours. Similarly, the get-in price for Miami’s home match against the New York Red Bulls on August 26, which is also expected to be Messi’s first MLS match, rose from $30 to $401. Furthermore, Miami’s match against reigning MLS champion Los Angeles FC on September 3 soared from $81 for the cheapest ticket to $422.
Messi’s rumored move to Inter Miami follows speculation about where the World Cup champion would play after his second season with Paris Saint-Germain. Paris Saint-Germain suspended Messi for two weeks after he took a promotional trip to Saudi Arabia without notifying the club. His father and manager, Jorge Messi, also met with Barcelona officials this week, leading to rumors that Messi could return to his former club.
It is unclear how much Messi will be paid to join Inter Miami, but Forbes estimates that he earned $130 million last year, making him the second-highest-paid athlete in the world after Cristiano Ronaldo.
The surge in ticket prices for Inter Miami matches shows the impact that superstar players can have on the popularity and profitability of sports teams. However, it also raises questions about the accessibility of sports events for fans who cannot afford the high prices.
Overall, the reported move of Lionel Messi to Inter Miami has caused a significant increase in ticket prices for the club’s matches. While this is undoubtedly exciting news for fans who can afford the high prices, it also highlights the potential issue of accessibility for those who cannot. The impact of superstar players on sports teams and their profitability cannot be underestimated, and it will be interesting to see how Messi’s move to Inter Miami will affect the MLS and the broader soccer world.