Two days before the Vancouver Whitcaps set up the BC Place to host Inter Miami, the Canadian side made an unprecedented announcement, in which the fans were infected, forced the news room to overdrive and leave Miami for a response Gave.
“While we have not received the official update on availability Lionel Messi, Luis SuarezAnd Sergio Busquets For this weekend, we understand that they will not travel, “Whitcaps CEO Axle Shoaster said in a statement last season.” Unfortunately, we have no control over who plays for our opponent, and it was important for us to communicate with our fans as soon as possible. “
Despite Messi’s absence, whitecaps vowed to follow with their scheduled pregem ceremonies, including a block party, tailgates, and several activities outside the stadium. Earlier a team was unusual to reveal the roster update about a rival; Even more unprecedented to offer a discount of 50% in the stadium food to disappoint the absence of an opposing player.
Messi’s power was re -observed to disrupt the typical Gameday protocol of the teams when the Chicago Fire offered an unprecedented compensation package to the fans in the previous season, when failed to feature in the 31 August match against Messi Inter Miami in the match of 31 August. . If Messi did not play, the fire gave single-match buyers to two or more new 2025 Chicago Fire Season-Ticut membership or against Inter Miami for 2025 home matches from two or two match tickets $ 100 to $ 250 from $ 100 to $ 250 Gave credit for
Nevertheless, a mess-less inter Miami produced the season-high congestion for Whitcaps (51,035) and The Fire (55,385), which helps explain that the teams helps to fan the flames of “Messi frenzy” Bending backwards.
Messi large stadium, brings high prices
When Messi joined MLS in summer of 2023, the teams fast adjusted to host one of the largest game. Now, after Messi moves to the third season in the American League, MLS continues to navigate the revolutionary conditions around the Games of Messi’s Antra Miami.
When teams are ready to host the heron, it is not a matter of stopping Messi on the field: by taking them to big places, large-scale crowd preparations and the arrival of a star-stade inter Miami. The squad should try to promote. The new special marketing strategies and targeted efforts began to run on team social channels and websites, the day 2025 schedules were announced.
The expectation of facing Messi inspired each inter-Miami opponent for different decisions, but all made changes to increase attention, and 2025 are certain to bring out-out-box outlooks. Is. After all, Messi is in the final year of its Miami contract, and teams may not have another chance on their presence.
Sporting Canasus City regularly plays football-specific Children in Mercy Park, with 18,467 viewers. But when Inter Miami was faced in the previous season, the Western Conference team went to the Earohed Stadium, the NFL site claimed a capacity of 76,416. The ticket price was based on the closeness of the pitch from $ 100-290 in the upper bowl and $ 180-600 in the lower bowl-the Children multiply more than the specific ticket in Mercy Park based on the section.
Despite the large site in Canasus City, the match was a sales. This attracted 72,610 fans in the fourth largest standalone congestion in MLS history and the highest part of the regular season of 2024.
Charlotte FC, New England Revolution, Chicago Fire and Atlanta United already play in large NFL stadiums, but the option to expand the general category of tickets so that they can adjust local Miami supporters. These teams often close the upper bowls, making only the lower classes available to buy, but they changed their policies against heron and Messi.
In 2023, Atlanta claimed a crowd of 71,635 spectators at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium to face Miami-the average attendance of the team was 47,526, the highest average of any MLS team in 2023. When Atlanta United shocked the last season last season. 68,455 winners win a 2–1 win, this was the fifth largest postsen appearance in MLS history, and the only first round MLS playoff match to make the list.
In Charlotte, around 66,000 fans filled the Bank of America Stadium for a regular season game, which many were described as one of the most anticipated games in franchise history. Charlotte FC has seen only one big audience which was his inaugural match in front of 74,000 fans. Otherwise, the team is an average of about 36,000 supporters in a regular session game.
Kranti, a founding team of MLS, has been in the league since 1996, attracted a club-riddled crowd of 65,612 fans at Gillette Stadium last season when he hosted Messi when he hosted Messi. It crossed his 2002 MLS Cup final attendance record from 4,296, a record that stood for 22 years.
Inter Miami Player said, “Whenever we show, there is a good thing to see the public,” said the Inter Miami Player Julian Gracle“This is incredible to see the support that comes behind us. There are some games where it’s a bit strange, such as in DC or New England, for example, the crowd is very supportive Miami and Pro-Messi.”
When hosting Inter Miami in small, football-specific stadiums, tickets are sold quickly, which generates a competitive resale market. According to Sitgeack, CF Montreal’s Seputo Stadium can host 20,521 fans – spending only $ 13 in $ 13 with an average ticket $ 69 in 2024. But against Inter Miami, the average sky touched to $ 465.
The 2024 regular season game conducted by CF Montreal against Inter Miami now ranks to the top 10 most expensive MLS matches since 2009, according to the Vividsetts. The cheapest ticket available was $ 325, while the most expensive reached $ 729 days before the match.
High prices also did not stop fans. Saputo Stadium sold to Saputo Stadium, welcoming 19,619 fiery fans dressed in all types of costumes to show his support.
Stubhub spokesman Adam Budeli said in a press release, “The influence of the arrival of Messi’s inter Miami CF continues with an increase in global demand on Stubhub.” “An increase in sales for Inter Miami, and the league as a whole, is a will for their heritage as a football star. Messi’s influence is beyond the boundaries of their home stadium, which road from buyers worldwide There is a demand for driving.
Never seen in Inter Miami MLS
Sporting Census City’s prolonged head coach and sports director, Peter Verms, says that MLS first became manager in 2009 as he witnesses most of MLS’s biggest signs, including David Beckham, Zlatton Ibrahimovic, David Villa And Theory Henry. And yet, he says that the frenzy around Messi is unique.
“In 2010, we played the role of Man United in Earohed and had something like 56,000 or 58,000 fans, and it was a big milestone for us,” said Vermas. “Now, you are not bringing one of the most famous teams in the world to play against us. You are talking about playing against another MLS team. And now you have 72,000 crowds. It is in itself It is untrue. It is an unprecedented. Were. “
When Houston Dynamo faced Inter Miami in the US Open Cup final last season, a competition that struggled to establish a leg in American football, Messi also added a boost. Messi’s availability for the match was suspicious in hours, which was leading to kick, but Dynamo defender Griffin Dorsi Said that the discussion made by Herons is unique in MLS with or without its captain on the ground.
Dorsi said, “Something is being added to the game around Messi, which would not have happened there,” Daisi said. “This discussion was very big. It is completely the Miami team, especially last year, but you see it this year too – it brings a lot to the league. When you are playing against something, always there is always a lot of enthusiasm. And the best player has played the game.
In fact, further appearance was thought of that the uproar was instigated, Dynamo’s head coach Ben Olsen said.
“Messi adds sijal to the game,” Alsen told ESPN. “And he has managed to do so for the league and for any opponent who is currently preparing for the team. He has converted himself into a Marki team in this league.”
MLS announced that overall average appearance in 2024 increased by 23,240: 10 games included at least 45,000 fans, five games had over 50,000 fans and three more than 60,000. Inter Miami played six out of the top 10 matches, and Miami set a 72,601 season record when Sporting Casey played at the Earohed Stadium.
“His influence has been unimaginable,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. “Matrix on and out on the field has been fantastic. And it is great to distribute Leo Messi to MLS in the way we expected to be.”
Undoubtedly, wherever Messi goes, the crowd will follow and the criteria will break. Nothing should be expected to be reduced in 2025 as the possibility of Messi’s final season in MLS Lingers in the minds of fans – and opposing teams.