Soccer | June 9, 2023
The Messi Effect is real!
I feel sorry for the wives of Miami locals if your wedding anniversary lands on the same day as Lionel Messi's Inter Miami debut. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there are only two outcomes – either getting dragged to the game or it'll be a savage moment where you're left at home on that special night.
Fans have gone stir-crazy since an announcement was made the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner's wishes were to sign with the club, and there's nothing we can do about it.
It's often been European or international signings that have triggered such hype in US soccer news. But even when David Beckham joined LA Galaxy many moons ago, or when Gareth Bale and Wayne Rooney joined the MLS, none of these moments can be compared to the Messi hysteria going on stateside right now.
The Messi Effect™ Vol. 2 🐐 pic.twitter.com/OosMcRtG8h
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 9, 2023
Inter Miami Social Media Sky Rockets
The Messi effect is real, ladies and gentlemen. Prior to the news of Messi's arrival, the Inter Miami Instagram page had in the region of 1 million followers. And then, BOOM, the Messi soccer rumors hit media outlets, and it became the biggest piece of news this week – potentially this year – and at the time of writing, that same Instagram page has 6.9 million followers.
To put it into perspective, that's 400,000 more than the Miami Heat, who's currently competing in the NBA finals. 5.9 million followers have followed Inter Miami since the Messi transfer hit the streets of the 305 and a follower growth of 1.3 million within the first four hours the announcement was made.
There's more. Inter Miami is more popular on Instagram than all NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, or fellow MLS franchises. We can see "America's team" (Dallas Cowboys) has 4.5 million on Insta, proving how serious the Messi madness has gotten.
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) June 7, 2023
Inter Miami Ticket Sales Go Bonkers
The Messi mania doesn't stop there, oh no. After the soccer news hit the shelves, there was a 1,398% increase in the average ticket price for a game at DRV PNK that was previously $15 – now you're looking at $230 as standard.
And that's just the home games! Away tickets bounced from $94 to $207 (119%).
On Wednesday, those looking for a New York Red Bulls-Inter Miami ticket were presented with a $438 price tag at the cheapest!
Oh, and if you're late to the party, don't waste your time; they're sold out!
Tickets for every match vs. Inter Miami across the whole USA have been completely sold out.
Leo Messi’s influence is unreal 🐐 pic.twitter.com/kjzTPtSDfu — Barça Worldwide (@BarcaWorldwide) June 8, 2023
MLS season ticket holders waking up to the “Messi To MLS” news:pic.twitter.com/l8bImj6uoC
— Anibal (@latinheat) June 7, 2023
It's gotten crazy, folks, and I love it. The USA has been that one country, for decades, too stubborn to see the beauty of soccer and struggled to drift from its beloved homegrown sports, but a change is upon us.
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