The "Messi effect": Sky‑high ticket prices and full stadiums in MLS

Tickets for New England Revolution matches can often be bought for a few pounds. However, the arrival of Inter Miami with Lionel Messi in the squad meant that fans had to dig deep into their pockets.

Lionel Messi has once again enchanted football fans. The Argentine star is enjoying football in the United States and doing exceptionally well. Last night, he played a critical role in Inter Miami's confident 4:1 victory over the New England Revolution.

The world champion from Qatar scored two goals and assisted the remaining two. The 36-year-old has not stopped impressing since moving to the USA, and it's no surprise that fans flock to stadiums to watch him live from the stands.

American clubs are keen to capitalize on the huge interest in Messi and strive to earn as much as possible. It has become the norm for ticket prices to skyrocket when Inter Miami plays away games, and fans feel the pinch.

The average New England Revolution - Inter Miami match ticket price was £230. The match was played at a stadium the New England Patriots football players used. A rare situation occurred because fans had to pay more for a football match than an NFL game.

Last year, the average ticket price for "Patriots" games was £220, which is £8 less than the matchup with Inter in MLS. However, this did not deter fans. The stadium was nearly full, with over 65,000 fans in the stands.

New England Revolution matches normally do not attract such high interest. On May 19th, this team will host Philadelphia Union, and tickets will start at £14. The difference is, therefore, massive.

However, this no longer surprises anyone in MLS, and the phenomenon has been dubbed the "Messi effect." Wherever Inter goes with him in the lineup, ticket prices quickly rise, and fans still buy them.