Lionel Messi’s MLS move causes Inter Miami ticket price rise
Soccer fans eager to catch a glimpse of Lionel Messi in action may have to dig a bit deeper into their pockets. The legendary soccer star announced his move to MLS’s Inter Miami club on Wednesday, and ticket prices for the team’s games skyrocketed almost immediately, according to tech company Logitix. Prior to Messi’s announcement, the average ticket price for a game at DRV PNK Stadium was $15. Now, prices have jumped by 1,398%, with the average ticket costing $230. The frenzy surrounding Messi’s arrival has driven up ticket sales fourfold in just a matter of days.
It’s not just home games that are affected by Messi-mania. The average price of an away game ticket increased from $94 to $207, a 119% jump. In some cases, the cheapest ticket for an agonizingly anticipated match between the New York Red Bulls and Inter Miami in August rose to $438. Messi’s announcement has caused league-wide ticket prices to skyrocket, fueling the hype surrounding his move to Inter Miami and building excitement in a Miami sports scene that is already on the rise.
Inter Miami has struggled with attendance in previous seasons, with an average of only 12,637 fans per game and a total attendance of 214,833, both league-worst marks. Messi’s arrival is set to attract far more attention, drawing crowds from far and wide and injecting much-needed excitement into a team that’s currently placed last in MLS’s Eastern Conference with a 5-11 record. Despite recent turbulence such as the firing of coach Phil Neville last week, Messi’s impending arrival is generating buzz across Miami’s sports community.
“Obviously, he is one of the greatest players to play the beautiful game,” commented Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler. “I’m so excited for the city of Miami, to be able to have a player of that caliber here.”
Fans eager to catch a glimmer of Messi during his Inter Miami career may end up shelling out a pretty penny, but to witness one of soccer’s true greats on the field is an opportunity that’s unlikely to come around often.
FAQs:
Q: When did Lionel Messi announce his move to Inter Miami?
A: Messi announced his move to Inter Miami on Wednesday.
Q: What was the average ticket price for a game at DRV PNK Stadium prior to Messi’s announcement?
A: The average ticket price was $15.
Q: What is the current average ticket price for a game at DRV PNK Stadium?
A: The current average ticket price is $230.
Q: By how much have ticket prices for Inter Miami games increased since Messi’s announcement?
A: Prices have increased by 1,398%.
Q: What was Inter Miami’s average attendance in previous seasons?
A: Inter Miami’s average attendance in previous seasons was only 12,637 fans per game, and its total attendance was 214,833, both league-worst marks.

The transfer of Lionel Messi to MLS results in a surge in ticket prices for Inter Miami.
When it comes to catching a Lionel Messi game in Miami, be prepared to pay a sky-high price. Since the legendary soccer star announced on Wednesday that he would be joining MLS’s Inter Miami club, ticket prices for the team’s games have soared, according to tech company Logitix. Prior to Messi’s stunning move, the average ticket price for a game at DRV PNK Stadium was only $15. Now, prices have gone up an astronomical 1,398%, with tickets now selling for an average price of $230. Ticket sales have quadrupled in the days since the announcement compared to the previous 169 days. This increase hasn’t only impacted home games, either. Logitix reports that the average price for an away game ticket, which was already at $94, jumped 119% to $207.
Messi’s arrival is sure to inflate Inter Miami’s attendance numbers, which have been dismal in the past. During the 2022 season, the team’s average attendance was just 12,637 fans per game, with a total attendance of only 214,833 — both the worst in the league. However, Messi’s presence is also likely to generate much-needed excitement for a team that has been languishing at the bottom of the MLS’s Eastern Conference, with only a 5-11 record.
The team has been undergoing some upheaval recently, too. Miami fired their coach, Phil Neville, only last week and has put interim coach Javier Morales in charge. However, Messi’s impending arrival has already created a wave of hype in Miami’s sports scene, which is thriving at the moment, with the NBA’s Heat and the NHL’s Panthers playing for their respective league championships.
“Obviously, he is one of the greatest players to play the beautiful game,” said Heat star Jimmy Butler in a statement on Thursday. “I’m so excited for the city of Miami, to be able to have a player of that caliber here.” Although several clubs, including Barcelona and Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, had hoped to land Messi, he has decided to link up with Inter Miami, which has been connected to him since its inception in 2018.