Inter Miami fans have been left furious by the club’s huge price increase for 2024 season tickets.
The cheapest season ticket at the Major League Soccer team for 2023 was priced at $485 but that has now risen to almost double the price at $884. A ticket in the Midfield Club – a lower-level seat – costs $7,650 for next season when last year, it was $3,600.
While supporters may well have expected to pay more given the arrivals of Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, they were taking to social media en masse to vent their fury at the team on Thursday night.
‘F***ing disrespectful towards your loyal fans,’ one supporter fumed, on X. ‘My 2023 season ticket plan was $485 and it has now increased to $884.
‘We still don’t have a real stadium and the improvement in play quality doesn’t reflect the 82% increase in pricing.’
Inter Miami season ticket prices are skyrocketing with Lionel Messi now playing for the club
The cheapest season ticket Miami will now sell to see Messi play has risen by 82 per cent
David Beckham, a Miami co-owner, played a key part in bringing Messi to the MLS team
Another wrote: ‘Just looked up my invoice from last season and I have a 83% increase. Also last season they offered a 10-month payment plan. The renewal has 8. This is the price of loyalty in Miami.’
One supporter claimed to have been quoted five time as much for the same tickets for next season, saying: ‘Try 5 times as much! Paid $2,200 this season, quoted $10,710. Enjoyed it while it lasted.’
A fan of rival MLS team Austin added: ‘Reminder that Inter Miami still play at a pretty bad temporary stadium 30 miles from downtown Miami.
‘The league has got to step in at some point to stop the insanity. That new stadium will be empty after Messi leaves in a few years if you treat fans like this.’
In the English Premier League, Tottenham has the most expensive season ticket at $2,500. Manchester United’s most expensive season ticket is $1,237 and Manchester City – the Premier League champion and Champions League holder – have a highest price of $1,277.
Season tickets in the NFL go up to $4,500 for eight regular season home games while in the NBA, season ticket packages can go up to $90,000 with teams playing 41 times at home.
Miami appear determined to cash in on excitement around Messi, though. Premium seats for a Miami game go up to $45,000.
According to the Miami Herald, the team called its season ticket holders ‘the heartbeat of Inter Miami’ in the email to fans announcing the cost increase.
Fans were quick to take to social media when the new ticket prices were announced
Messi missed Miami’s US Open Cup final defeat to Houston Dynamo through injury this week
Messi, 36, joined Miami in June on a two-and-a-half year contract with an option for a third.
He is expected to earn between $50m-$60m a year in Major League Soccer, in a deal that in part is bankrolled by Adidas, via shirt sales, and Apple TV’s global subscription deal with MLS.
Miami have been approached for comment about the price rise, which has been announced a day after the team lost the US Open Cup final to Houston Dynamo.
Messi missed that game through injury, with the World Cup star struggling to recover from a scar tissue problem. He missed the previous game, a 1-1 tie with Orlando in MLS and could only manage 37 minutes of the game prior.
But when Messi has played, he has been sensational. He led Miami to the Leagues Cup trophy in his first few weeks at the team and has scored 11 goals in 12 games, providing five assists.
Miami plays next on Saturday night at DRV PNK Stadium against New York City FC, the team that occupies the final playoff place in the Eastern Conference.
For Miami, 14th in the standings and five points behind NYCFC, it is a must-win game.
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