Fans of Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami are outraged after the Major League Soccer club quadrupled season ticket costs for next season, but the opportunity to see the World Cup winner will still entice many.
On Thursday, the club, which is co-owned by Miami businessman Jorge Mas and former England player David Beckham, texted fans with information about ticket renewal costs.
The cheapest season ticket for this season was $485, but the ‘Messi effect’ has increased it to $884 for a seat behind the goal for the 17 home MLS games. This works out to $52 each match.
Seats with a better view, close to the half-way line, and access to a food and drink ‘club’ have increased from $3,600 to $7,650, with similar increases for the most costly seats.
The lowest season ticket to see European and Premier League champions Manchester City is $469, while the most costly is $1,256, while hospitality packages are sold separately.
The cheapest season pass at Messi’s old club Barcelona is $380.53, while the most expensive is $919.62.
This season, season ticket holders have been shielded from the significant increase in single match ticket costs for Miami games caused by Messi’s arrival in July.
Some have profited by reselling their season ticket access to specific games on the secondary ticket market at hefty markups.
Fans will be able to downgrade their seats to cheaper choices if they so desire, and the club has a huge waiting list for season tickets, according to a club source.
The club is only in its fourth season, and the frustration is especially evident among fans who have waited for years to support an MLS team.
Ed Serrano, who spent years lobbying league officials and conducting events to develop support for an MLS team in South Florida, said he knows many fans who are considering not renewing their subscriptions.
“It’s crazy. I expected them to go up, but maximum 50%. These guys are just thinking about making money and there is a lot of demand so they think they will get away with it,” he told AFP.
“Maybe they are looking for just the elite to watch the games and forget about other people. They are going to lose people like this if they continue with this mentality,” he said.
– New stadium –
The club plan to move from their temporary DRV PNK Stadium, in Fort Lauderdale in 2025, to a new site Miami Freedom Park, by Miami International Airport.
The $350 million stadium will be part of a reported $1 billion retail, entertainment, office and hotel development.
That switch to the new home is scheduled for the last year of Messi’s $150 million deal with the club.
A club source said that the price rise reflects the changes on the field after bringing in Messi, along with former Spain internationals Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, as well as the broader investments being made.
But Serrano fears the cost increase may damage the building of a fan base for the future.
“One day Messi will be gone….they aren’t thinking in the big picture. It is the hardcore that they are chasing away and they may never come back,” he said.
Some fans who have already been prepared to commit large sums to secure seats are rethinking their approach for next season.
Jeffrey Skatoff of Palm Beach Gardens, who spent over $20,000 on seven season tickets for family and friends, said the renewal price he was quoted saw the total rise to $53,550.
“I liked having seven season tickets. I could give them away or bring casual fans to games, because the price was decent. Now I will probably go from seven season tickets down to two,” he said.
Serrano, known among Inter fans as ‘Uncle Ed’ says that despite his strong objections, he will likely still fork out the money.
“I’m just so shocked by all this. I was contemplating boycotting but I love the team too much and fought so hard to get a team that I can’t bring myself to do it”.