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Tag: Miami FC

  • These are the cheapest places to see Lionel Messi play in the U.S.

    These are the cheapest places to see Lionel Messi play in the U.S.

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    Soccer star Lionel Messi, who led Argentina to its third World Cup victory last year has brought his talents — and a lot of fanfare — to Inter Miami FC and Major League Soccer (MLS).

    Parties behind the landmark deal to recruit the Ballon d’Or winner to the U.S. are betting that he will help further popularize professional soccer and attract younger generations to the sport. The move already appears to be paying off, with young fans showing up to his first practice to try to catch a glimpse of the international superstar. 

    “The Messi Effect is real!” Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas said of the increase in paid subscribers on social media platform X. “How exciting for a truly global fan base!” he added.

    SOCCER: AUG 19 Leagues Cup Final - Nashville SC vs Inter Miami CF
    Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) crosses the ball ahead of Nashville SC defender Lukas MacNaughton (3) during the Leagues Cup Final match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023 at GEODIS Park in Nashville.

    Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images


    Tickets to Messi’s MLS debut for Inter Miami against Mexico’s league, LIGA MX, were priced as high as $56,901, according to ticket retailer Vivid Seats.

    “Messi Mania”

    MLS Season Pass subscriptions have more than doubled on Apple TV, since Messi made the move from his home country of Argentina, according to a tweet from Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas, that Apple CEO Tim Cook retweeted. 

    “For MLS, we could not be happier with how the partnership is going,” Cook said on a recent Apple earnings call. “It’s clearly in the early days, but we are beating our expectation in terms of subscribers, and the fact that Messi went to Inter Miami helped us out there a bit. And so we’re very excited about it.”

    The excitement, dubbed “Messi Mania” has also driven up interest in live games at MLS stadiums.

    Searches for phrases such as “where is Messi playing next” on Google Trends have soared in recent weeks, as have ticket prices, according to a study from Sixt, a car rental booking platform. 


    Lionel Messi holds first press conference since joining Inter Miami CF

    02:44

    Most affordable tickets

    The good news is, you can still see Messi play in the flesh for under $200, depending on where you live or how far you’re willing to travel to see the soccer star.

    Sixt looked at game ticket prices for Inter Miami FC’s 2023 matchups on StubHub.com to find the lowest ticket price available for each game. 

    The lowest-priced ticket to an Inter Miami game this season is $153, on Sept. 16 against Atlanta United in Atlanta, according to Sixt’s analysis. Of course, there’s no guarantee the 36-year-old team captain will be on the field. By contrast, the lowest cost ticket to Inter Miami’s matchup against Los Angeles Football Club in LA on Sept. 3 is $637.

    Here is the list of the most affordable places to see Lionel Messi play based on his team’s schedule.

    1. Atlanta, Georgia — September 16 — $153
    2. Fort Lauderdale, Florida — August 30, September 9 — $162
    3. Charlotte, North Carolina — Oct 21 — $171
    4. Chicago — October 4 — $176
    5. Orlando, Florida — Sep 24 — $269
    6. Harrison, New Jersey — August 26 — $427
    7. Los Angeles — September 3 — $637

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  • Lionel Messi’s arrival in South Florida with Inter Miami could help soccer “thrive” in U.S.

    Lionel Messi’s arrival in South Florida with Inter Miami could help soccer “thrive” in U.S.

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    The much-anticipated Major League Soccer debut of soccer superstar Lionel Messi with his new team, Inter Miami, on Friday night did not disappoint. 

    After checking in as a substitute early in the second half, Messi scored on a sensational free kick in stoppage time to give Inter Miami the win over Mexican club Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup, and sending the sold-out crowd at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale into a frenzy. 

    Lionel Messi
    Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF celebrates after scoring a goal the Leagues Cup match against Mexican club Cruz Azul at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on July 21, 2023.

    Arturo Jimenez/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images


    Messi’s U.S. arrival is generating a frenzy of excitement in South Florida, with soccer fans extending him a warm welcome. The Miami Herald even dedicated a full-page message saying “Bienvenido Messi” last Sunday. 

    Messi, who is Argentinian and regarded as one of the greatest players in soccer history, recently won his first World Cup trophy for his home country. He now brings his global celebrity to the U.S., after announcing last month he has decided to play in the MLS.

    Messi’s arrival, coupled with the Women’s World Cup as the women’s national team efforts a three-peat, will contribute to the growth of soccer in America, said Roger Bennett, co-founder of Men in Blazers, a soccer-focused media company.

    “America will be a normal football nation in which the game is loved and it thrives, and maybe one day will produce a Lionel Messi of our own, which is when we know we’ve really made it,” said Bennett.  

    Bennett compared Messi’s arrival in the U.S. to LeBron James deciding “he’s gonna pack up and go and play for the Shanghai Sharks in China.” 

    His decision to play for Inter Miami not only marks a milestone moment for the MLS, but also represents a significant partnership for the league’s new streaming partner, Apple TV. The team secured the lucrative deal with some creative arrangements, including a cut of the broadcasting uptick for Apple TV subscriptions worldwide and negotiations with Adidas to share a portion of their profits. 

    Inter Miami’s owner, Jorge Mas, revealed that the deal to bring Messi to the team could be worth an astonishing $50-60 million a year.  

    “I’ve gotta give huge respect to Major League Soccer,” Bennett said. “This is an incredibly creative, a groundbreaking, a deeply inventive deal.”

    The Messi family’s familiarity with Miami played a significant role in the decision, as they already had an apartment in the city, making it feel like home, according to Bennett.  

    In addition to his impact on the field, Messi’s presence is creating a buzz among fans and potential investors alike. Ticket prices for his first match with Inter Miami soared, reaching more than $100,000 for some seats, and demand for Inter Miami matches throughout the league has skyrocketed. 

    David Beckham, co-owner of Inter Miami and a former MLS star, hopes Messi’s arrival will inspire a new generation of soccer enthusiasts in the United States.  

    With one of the largest Argentine populations in the country, Miami is already embracing Messi with adoring crowds swarming him outside restaurants. Images of him shopping at a local Publix grocery store have gone viral. 

    At his first practice, fans flocked to catch a glimpse of their hero — especially the younger generation. 

    “We’re here to see Messi. Because we think he’s awesome,” said one young fan at his first practice. 

    In the wake of Messi’s arrival, Inter Miami’s Instagram followers have skyrocketed from one million to an impressive 10 million, surpassing all U.S. sports teams outside the NBA, reflecting the widespread enthusiasm surrounding the soccer superstar’s debut.

    Manuel Bojorquez


    Manuel Bojorquez

    Manuel Bojorquez is a CBS News national correspondent based in Miami. He joined CBS News in 2012 as a Dallas-based correspondent and was promoted to national correspondent for the network’s Miami bureau in January 2017. Bojorquez reports across all CBS News broadcasts and platforms.

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