The stadiums were still packed despite the exorbitant ticket prices to see Messi.
Messi and Inter Miami played two away games in the MLS (Major League Soccer) during this period. These included a 1-4 defeat against Minnesota United FC on May 11th at Allianz Field, a stadium with a capacity of 19,400, but which sold 19,710 tickets. The next game against San Jose Earthquakes, at PayPal Park (capacity 18,000), also saw a ticket frenzy and sold out, according to the club.
Messi created a viewing frenzy and ticket prices skyrocketed at the stadiums he played in the US.
Photo: Reuters
This is Messi's first visit to Northern California since joining Inter Miami, a city with a huge fan base for the Argentinian star. Therefore, in the days since he and his teammates arrived in San Jose, fans have been gathering in large numbers at the hotel or training ground to welcome them.
According to American media, most tickets for matches featuring Messi are more expensive than tickets for other regular MLS games. But the upcoming Inter Miami vs. San Jose Earthquakes match has seen ticket prices skyrocket in an unusually dramatic way.
"Normally, tickets for San Jose Earthquakes games cost only $23. But tickets for the upcoming game, with the cheapest tickets currently on sale on the online ticketing site Ticketmaster, have reached $405. Individual tickets have sold out, some resale tickets have been verified to be priced at over $1,000, while VIP tickets near each penalty area are priced at over $5,000," the American newspaper, The Standard , reported on May 14.
"We've hosted an all-star game, featuring both the US men's and women's national teams, at the stadium's opening, but the level of demand for this Messi game has surpassed all those games and events," San Jose Earthquakes President Jared Shawlee told The Standard .
Messi scored his 860th career goal in Inter Miami's 1-4 defeat to Minnesota United FC on May 11th.
Photo: Reuters
Jared Shawlee also suggested that San Jose Earthquakes fans who couldn't afford tickets could still attend if they had a season pass and purchase tickets at half the current price. However, this was limited to only a few hundred seats. This event was also special because the Messi effect only occurs in one game of the club's entire season.
Before the game, the San Jose Earthquakes club also organized a concert for fans who came to see Messi but couldn't get into the stadium. "This was really a test run for the World Cup that will take place in 2026. We still want the city center to be a destination for anyone who can't afford to watch the games, but still wants to feel the festive atmosphere and the football spirit," said Jared Shawlee.
Inter Miami is currently ranked 4th in the MLS Eastern Conference with 21 points after 11 games. Messi's team has lost 2 of their last 3 MLS games, so they are determined to get back to winning ways. Meanwhile, San Jose Earthquakes, ranked 7th in the Western Conference, has just had two consecutive wins.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cuc-soc-gia-ve-xem-messi-cuc-dat-tang-phi-ma-len-den-gan-130-trieu-dong-ve-185250514080418042.htm
Comment (0)