Messi helps bring in $265 million in ticket sales in the US

Messi has played nine games for Miami, since a Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul on July 22, when he scored the decisive free-kick in the final minutes. Since then, ticket prices for matches in the United States have increased by 1,034%, according to estimates by the magazine.FortuneTickets for matches without Messi were also pushed up, and these increases amounted to $265 million.

Soccer stadiums in the United States tend to have smaller capacity than those in Europe or South America, so tickets to see Messi play are even more expensive. There is no Messi ticket class that is cheaper than $200 at the moment. For example, Inter Miami’s upcoming match against Los Angeles FC on September 4th is selling tickets at the gate for $422. Or for the recent match against the New York Red Bulls in New Jersey, tickets increased from $29 to $850, a 2,850% increase.

Messi's economic influence doesn't stop there. Since the Argentine superstar joined Miami,AppleTVadded 300,000 new subscribers, increasing revenue by $30 million. According to Messi's contract, he will receive a portion of this additional revenue.

Messi is also expected to increase Miami's revenue by 257% within a year. The team's revenue in 2022 is $56 million, compared to MLS's top earner, Atlanta United, at $103 million. With Messi, David Beckham's team is expected to earn $200 million. That would make Miami the club that earns the most money in an MLS season. Worldwide, only 33 clubs will earn $200 million or more in revenue in 2021-2022, including only one American team, Flamengo (Brazil).

Miami's value has also skyrocketed as Messi has shone. Last year, the team was valued at $585 million, but Beckham expects the club's value to reach $1.5 billion next year.

Messi has scored 11 goals in just nine games for Miami, helping the team win its first-ever Leagues Cup, reach the Nations Cup final and escape the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference. Every game featuring Messi has always attracted big names from the American entertainment industry. For example, in the 36-year-old superstar's most recent game in New Jersey, rappers Swae Lee and French Montana jumped up to celebrate Messi's goal.

Miami is also accelerating plans to build a new $350 million stadium, with the goal of completing it before Messi leaves. His contract with the team expires 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 than the current DRV PNK stadium. The stadium will be part of a sports complex located at Miami Freedom Park, a park with an area of ​​about 234,000 square meters.

“By creating a multi-faceted space, we will set a new standard for sports complexes,” Inter Miami co-president Jorge Mas said on August 28. “We want to provide a culinary and entertainment destination for families to enjoy all year round. I can’t wait to welcome fans to our state-of-the-art stadium and hear the roar when Messi and the Inter Miami players take the field for the first time in 2025.”