Messi helped bring in $ 265 million in ticket sales in the US
Messi has played nine games for Miami, since against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup on July 22, when he scored the winning free-kick in the final minutes. Since then, ticket prices in the US have increased by 1,034%, according to Fortune estimates. Tickets to matches without Messi were also pushed up, and these increases amounted to $265 million.
Soccer fields in the US often have a smaller capacity than Europe or South America, so the price of tickets to see Messi play is more expensive. No ticket class to see Messi is cheaper than 200 USD at the moment. For example, the upcoming match against Los Angeles FC on September 4, Inter Miami sells tickets through the gate for $422. Or in the last match against the New York Red Bulls in New Jersey, ticket prices increased from $29 to $850, equivalent to an increase of 2,850%.
Messi's economic influence does not stop there. Since the Argentine superstar joined Miami, AppleTV has added 300,000 new subscribers, increasing revenue by $ 30 million. Under Messi's contract, he will receive a portion of this additional revenue.
Messi also expects to increase Miami's revenue by 257% within a year. Team revenue in 2022 is $56 million, compared to MLS best-earning club Atlanta United at $103 million. With Messi, David Beckham's team is expected to earn 200 million USD. That would make Miami the club with the most money in an MLS season. In the world, there are only 33 clubs with revenue of 200 million USD or more in the 2021-2022 season, of which there is only one American team, Flamengo (Brazil).
Miami's value also increased rapidly as Messi shined more and more. Last year, the team was valued at $585 million, but Beckham expects the team's value to reach $1.5 billion next year.
Messi has scored 11 goals in just nine games for Miami, helping the team win the club's first title in the club's history, the Leagues Cup, reach the National Cup final and break out of the bottom of the Eastern MLS table. Every match with Messi always attracts the names of the American entertainment industry. For example, in the last match of the 36-year-old superstar in New Jersey, two rappers Swae Lee and French Montana also jumped to celebrate Messi's goal.
Miami is also speeding up a $350 million plan to build a new stadium, with the goal of completing it before Messi leaves. His contract with the team will expire at the end of 2025, when he will be 38 years old.
The new stadium is expected to have a capacity of about 25,000 seats, 4,000 more seats than the current DRV PNK stadium. The field will be part of a sports complex located at Miami Freedom Park, a park that covers approximately 234,000 square meters.
"By creating a multi-faceted space, we will set a new standard for sports complexes," said Jorge Mas, co-chairman of Inter Miami, on August 28. "We want to provide a destination of food and entertainment for families to enjoy year-round. I can't wait to welcome fans to our state-of-the-art stadium and hear the chants, as Messi and the Inter Miami players will play for the first time in 2025."
