Watching Lionel Messi’s US debut might require a substantial investment, as tickets for his anticipated first game with Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup this Friday are fetching up to a staggering $110,000 on the ticket reselling platform, Vivid Seats.
This amounts to one of the highest ticket prices ever recorded for a Major League Soccer (MLS) match.
The price tag for certain seating spots skyrocketed following the renowned football icon’s official contract signing with the Major League Soccer club this past Saturday, a deal rumoured to be in the region of $50 to $60 million annually.
However, affordable ticket prices are also available for Friday’s encounter as well.
The average ticket price is $487 (THB 16,685), with some enthusiasts making a journey of close to 700 miles to watch the game against the Mexican team, Cruz Azul, a spokesperson for Vivid Seats confirmed.
Comparatively, tickets for last year’s League Cup face-off between Inter Miami and FC Barcelona were roughly half this cost.
Tickets for Messi’s MLS debut on August 20 versus Charlotte are currently averaging $288 (THB 9,870), as indicated by Vivid Seats, experiencing a nearly 900% hike since early June when rumors started circulating that Messi was heading for the US.
Overall ticket prices for Inter Miami, who are currently bottom of the table, have also surged around 700% since then.
Messi, now 36, is one of the most accomplished sportspeople in history, securing the prestigious Ballon d’Or trophy seven times and contributing to Argentina’s World Cup victory last year.
His contract encompasses an option for partial club ownership and a share in the profits from new subscriptions to the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV’s streaming service, as per numerous sources.
At his unveiling event on Sunday, Messi expressed that he’s “very excited” about being in Miami. “I come here with the same desire to compete, desire to win and help the club to continue to grow,” he communicated to a full-to-capacity stadium.
