Lionel Messi’s imminent MLS arrival sees ticket prices skyrocket

Lionel Messi’s incoming arrival to the USA has led to a surge in prices for tickets to Inter Miami’s MLS games, with admission to watch the team face the New York Red Bulls in August now costing around $300 a seat – a whooping 1400 percent inflation.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is set to join David Beckham’s side in the next few days, if not hours, after snubbing Barcelona and Saudi Arabia in favor of playing the last few seasons of his glittering career on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. 

And now that the 35-year-old’s free transfer is on the verge of completion, tickets to attend Messi’s possible annihilation of the Red Bulls on August 26 have leaped to a minimum of $400, according to Seat Geek. 

What’s more is that prior to the announcement of Messi’s move, tickets for the match were on sale starting at $25.  

Some tickets are now going for as much as $2,000 for a pitch side seat as football fans in the US clamor for a glimpse of Messi while he tours America’s largest cities.

Messi is on the verge of completing a free transfer to MLS side Inter Miami at 35-years-old

The prices for tickets to other, if not most of Inter Miami’s MLS matches have also gone through the roof, regardless of The Herons sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference Standings. 

Tickets to attend Inter Miami’s away game at LAFC  – one of MLS’ best-selling club’s – in September start at $383.   

Tickets for The Herons’ game at Orlando City SC are also on sale starting at $206, while tickets for a home game against New York City FC are being sold for at least $195.

Seat Geek also shows tickets for Miami’s away game at Chicago Fire going on sale for a minimum of $235.

Messi owns property in Miami and has said many times over the past year that he would like to play in the United States. 

Inter Miami’s partially owned by ex-England captain David Beckham & sit last of MLS standings

Messi’s arrival in the United States will send ‘soccer’ mad fans in the USA into delirium

Messi owns property in Miami and said many times over the years he’d like to play in the US

Terms of an agreement with Inter Miami are unclear at this point, although Messi would almost certainly raise the bar for the highest salary in MLS history. Toronto FC is paying Lorenzo Insigne a record $14million. 

Inter Miami also could offer him a minority stake in the club, which is owned by Beckham and billionaire businessman Jorge Mas, and his brother, Jose.

As for the MLS, Messi’s arrival would mark the league’s biggest splash signing since Beckham joined the LA Galaxy in 2007. MLS commissioner Don Garber told The Athletic in March that bringing Messi to the United States would be a boon for the league.

‘You’re dealing with perhaps the most special player in the history of the game,’ Garber said of Messi. ‘So when there are rumors of him connected to Miami, that’s great. And if it could happen, it would be terrific for MLS, it would be terrific for Messi and his family, and like everything with us, we try to run every opportunity down.’

Inter Miami (5-11-0) currently sit last in the Eastern Conference with 15 points. Only New York City FC have scored fewer goals (11) in the East than Miami (15).