A year ago, Lionel Messi’s arrival in Major League Soccer sparked incredible excitement. The “Messi effect” sent ticket prices soaring to unprecedented heights; fans were eager to see one of the greatest players play on American soil. The anticipation was palpable, especially when Messi led Inter Miami to the Leagues Cup final against Nashville.
Demand to see Messi peaked. Geodis Park, Nashville’s home, became the epicenter of this excitement. The first major edition of the Leagues Cup, a competition between MLS and Liga MX, provided Messi with the perfect stage to potentially lift his first trophy with the Herons. Fans were willing to pay a premium for this golden opportunity. At the time, ticket prices skyrocketed, some reaching an astronomical $12,000.
To put that in perspective, these prices surpassed the prices for the 2023 UEFA Champions League final. The cheapest seat for that match at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul cost $77.50. In contrast, the cheapest seats for the League Cup final sold for $484.45, while the best seats in the house reached the $12,075 mark. The excitement surrounding Messi’s potential victory drove this incredible demand.
A dramatic drop in ticket prices for the Leagues Cup at Inter Miami
Twelve months later, the situation has changed dramatically. The Messi mania that once drove up ticket prices has cooled considerably. With the Argentinian out due to injury, interest in this year’s Leagues Cup has noticeably waned and ticket prices have plummeted. The difference in enthusiasm is stark and is evident on the resale market.
For example, at a recent Leagues Cup match between Inter Miami and Toronto, tickets were available for as little as $4 just an hour before kickoff. This sharp drop in price reflects a general waning interest in the tournament, especially in Messi’s absence.
The drop in ticket prices is just one indicator of the declining interest in this year’s Leagues Cup. Miami-Herald Journalist Michelle Kaufman addressed this topic in the newspaper’s podcast. About Inter Miami“I feel like the Leagues Cup ratings have probably gone down,” Kaufman noted. “Attendance has gone down. Ticket prices have gone down and the general interest has probably not been as great.”
“You know the Apple executives were expecting big numbers for the Leagues Cup this year because they got huge numbers last year. I would absolutely bet that the numbers are much lower than last year when Leo Messi took part in the tournament and played in this country for the first time.”
This opinion was shared by Miami-Herald Deputy sports editor Andre Fernandez pointed out that Messi’s injury-related absence had significantly affected the tournament’s appeal. “I think Messi has a big part in that. So much was surrounded by him last year. And him being out through injury takes so much of the shine off it (League Cup).”
Wider football landscape
The waning interest in the Leagues Cup could also be due to the busy football calendar this summer. Major events such as the Olympics, Euro 2024, the Copa America and various international friendlies have likely diverted attention from the Leagues Cup. “I think there is too much on the calendar for football fans this summer,” Kaufman added, suggesting that the oversaturation of high-profile events has diluted the impact of the Leagues Cup.
Despite the waning interest in the Leagues Cup, it is notable that soccer still attracted significant attention in the United States this summer. Over a million fans attended the summer friendlies, showing the sport’s enduring appeal. The presence of major European clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and AC Milan, as well as five of England’s “Big Six,” seemed to have no trouble drawing huge crowds eager to see world-class players and teams in action.
PHOTOS: IMAGO
Load…