Messi, Inter Miami ticket sales have helped MLS see significant rise

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are the hottest ticket in soccer, StubHub announced Friday, as Major League Soccer experiences a significant spike in ticket sales thanks to the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and 2022 World Cup champion.

Messi’s Inter Miami are featured in the Top 25 highest-selling games of the MLS season – 15 of them will be on the road, while 10 will be played on their home pitch at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

StubHub says it is selling seven times more MLS tickets than last year, and sales for each of the Top 10 selling clubs have quadrupled. They have also experienced a rise in ticket sales with international buyers from 44 countries – up from nine countries last season. And it’s no surprise buyers from Argentina, where Messi is from, are purchasing the most tickets for MLS games outside of North America.

“The impact of Messi’s arrival to Inter Miami CF continues to be momentous, with increased global demand on StubHub. The surge in sales for Inter Miami, and the league as a whole, is a testament to his legacy as a soccer star,” StubHub spokesperson Adam Budelli said in a press release.

“Messi’s influence extends beyond the confines of his home stadium, driving demand on the road from buyers all over the world and most especially his native country Argentina.”

Inter Miami has experienced a major growth in MLS ticket sales from last season. It outsells the second highest-selling team, L.A. Galaxy, by 35%, and doubles the sales of the third highest-selling team, New England Revolution.

StubHub added: The average price of tickets sold for Inter Miami’s seven away games in the Top 10 most in-demand games is trending twice as higher than the average price of tickets sold for their three home games in the top 10.

Here are the Top 10 most in-demand games for Inter Miami on StubHub

Messi and Inter Miami begin the season on Wednesday at home against Real Salt Lake, and it’s the 10th most in-demand ticket in StubHub’s Top 10.

Inter Miami’s first road game of the season against L.A. Galaxy on Feb. 25 is the highest-selling ticket, and driving 50% more sales than the second-most in-demand match.

Here are the Top 10:

1. Inter Miami CF at LA Galaxy on Feb. 25.

2. Inter Miami CF at New England Revolution on April 27.

3. Inter Miami CF at Vancouver Whitecaps FC on May 25.

4. Inter Miami CF at Toronto FC on Oct. 5.

5. Inter Miami CF at D.C. United on March 16.

6. Inter Miami CF at CF Montréal on May 11.

7. Orlando City SC at Inter Miami CF on March 2.

8. Inter Miami CF at New York Red Bulls on March 23.

9. New York City FC at Inter Miami CF on March 30.

10. Real Salt Lake at Inter Miami CF on February 21.

Here are StubHub’s Top 10 In-Demand MLS Teams

1. Inter Miami CF

2. Los Angeles Galaxy

3. New England Revolution

4. Vancouver Whitecaps FC

5. Toronto FC

6. D.C. United

7. FC Montreal Soccer

8. New York Red Bulls

9. Philadelphia Union

10. FC Cincinnati