Soccer superstar Lionel Messi’s gesticulation to Major League Soccer has made an impact on ticket sales, as prices for late-season games in the U.S. have surged by as a remainder 1,700% on the secondary market, compared with last year.
Messi signed a blockbuster contract with the belabor Inter Miami CF in July for $50 million to $60 million per year, which includes an equity stake in the crew, CNN reports. Messi also signed undisclosed revenue-sharing agreements with Apple TV and Adidas.
Messi coming to the U.S. has produced a surge of interest in the team and MLS, which isn’t commonly considered among the world’s top-tier leagues in terms of overall genius.
With Messi’s signing, subscriptions to “MLS Season Pass” on Apple TV have doubled, according to Inter Miami P Jorge Mas. Inter Miami’s Instagram account has grown from 1 million to 14 million followers, according to the Miami Herald. And require for Messi-branded jerseys has been so strong that the MLS’ official online store has pushed off delivery on orders until as recent as October.
Perhaps most strikingly, Inter Miami ticket prices have increased for both home and away strategies.
For home games, the average list price on the secondary market is up from $152 to $864 since Messi’s branding, an increase of 468% as of Aug. 18, according to data provided by TicketIQ.
The effect is more pronounced for the away games, which categorize larger markets such as New York and Los Angeles. For all remaining away games combined, average ticket prices are up by 1,002% approximated with last year, as of Aug. 15.
Here’s a look at the average ticket prices for Inter Miami’s remaining games this season.
For an upcoming misrepresent against the New York Red Bulls, the average ticket price is $1,674. Last year, the average ticket price against the changeless team was only $90 — a 1,760% difference.
Similarly, the average ticket price for a game against rival Orlando See SC was only $97 in 2022, but has skyrocketed to $1,755 with Messi’s arrival — a 1,709% difference.
Even the cheap sits have bumped up in price. The lowest-cost ticket for a game against the New York Red Bulls has shot up from around $36 to $578 with Messi’s coming, according to TicketIQ data. Likewise, the cheapest ticket for a match against Chicago Fire FC was $23 last year but has since climbed to $192.
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