New York CNN –
“Messi mania” has hit the United States, judging by ticket prices.
On Wednesday, soccer superstar Lionel Messi announced he will be joining major league soccer club Inter Miami, a blockbuster announcement that shocked the sports world – even more so when it came to rumors of a lucrative deal in Saudi Arabia and reports followed of a move back to Barcelona, the team that made him famous.
Ticket prices are up nearly 1,000% for some games, with exceptional prices rarely found in MLS games, VividSeats told CNN.
It’s unclear when Messi will make his debut but sources told The Athletic that his first game could be on July 21 during the League Cup between Inter Miami and Mexican side Cruz Azul. According to data from VividSeats, a ticket cost an average of $1,248 on Thursday — a 922% increase from Monday’s price of $120.
Prices for in-league MLS games also skyrocketed. For example, a ticket to Inter Miami’s game against the New York Red Bulls on August 25 is now $983 – an 883% increase from Monday’s price of $99. A game between Inter Miami and Los Angeles FC in the California city on September 3 increased by 400%, with the average price rising from $150 to $785.
Of course, there is some risk in buying these tickets as the deal is not 100% and the Argentine’s official first game has not yet been announced. In a statement, MLS welcomed the prospect of Messi playing in the league.
“We are delighted that Lionel Messi has stated that he intends to join Inter Miami and Major League Soccer this summer,” the league said. “While we are still working to finalize a formal agreement, we look forward to welcoming one of football’s all-time greats to our league.”
It’s also a boon for Apple, which is streaming MLS matches on its fledgling TV streaming service. According to multiple reports, Messi’s deal includes an option for a partial stake in Inter Miami and a cut in revenue from new subscribers to Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass streaming service.
Apple recently reduced the price of a football subscription from $99 to $49 for the remainder of the season. The company doesn’t release viewership numbers, but Eddy Cue, Apple’s SVP of Services, recently said that it’s “performing a lot better than forecast” in terms of subscription counts and viewership.
CNN has reached out to Major League Soccer, Inter Miami, Messi’s representatives, Apple and David Beckham, who is part of Inter Miami’s owning team, to confirm the financial details.
Before landing in Florida, Messi previously played for Paris Saint-Germain, where he won two Ligue 1 titles in his two seasons but failed to help the club win the Champions League for the first time. Before joining PSG, Messi spent 17 trophy-filled years at Barcelona.