Inter Miami now has more Instagram followers than ANY NFL, MLB, NHL and MLS team after Lionel Messi revealed plans to sign with the club
- Lionel Messi’s commitment to join Inter Miami has had huge implications
- The club saw an increase of more than five million Instagram followers
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Lionel Messi has yet to pass even for Inter Miami, but the club’s Instagram account is already reaping the benefits of the star’s dedication to playing in South Florida.
In the 24 hours since Messi announced his intention to join the MLS club, Miami has gained more than five million followers – going from about one million to 6.1 million counted at the time of publication.
Amazingly, that’s more than the number of followers of every NFL, MLB, NHL and MLS club on Instagram according to Front Office Sports, with some huge franchises now trailing Inter Miami.
The New England Patriots have 4.9 million, the Dallas Cowboys have 4.5 million, and the iconic New York Yankees are further down the list with 3.2 million.
The ticket market to see Messi play in the US hit a similar fever pitch after his announcement, with prices to see him play against the New York Red Bulls rising 1400% in August.
Lionel Messi is now expected to join Inter Miami this summer in a blockbuster MLS move
Miami now has a whopping 6.1 million Instagram followers following the star’s pledge
Tickets now cost about $300 per seat for the event.
Prior to the announcement of Messi’s move, tickets to the match retailed for $25.
Ticket prices for other if not most of Inter Miami’s MLS matches have also gone through the roof, regardless of whether The Herons are in last place in the Eastern Conference standings
Tickets for Inter Miami’s away game at LAFC – one of the MLS’s best-selling clubs – in September start at $383.
Tickets to potentially see Messi play against the New York Red Bulls in August are on sale for $269
Tickets for The Herons game at Orlando City SC are also on sale starting at $206, while tickets for a home game against New York City FC retail for a minimum of $195.
Seat Geek is also showing tickets for Miami’s away game at Chicago Fire on sale for a minimum of $235.
The demand to see Messi in Miami appears to be much greater than the team’s current home base.
With only an 18,000-person capacity at DRV PNK Stadium, Miami may consider moving to Hard Rock Stadium, the 65,000-person home of the NFL’s Dolphins.