With Lionel Messi’s arrival, Inter Miami has achieved unexpectedly high attendance numbers at their games and helped the Major League Soccer (MLS) set a record for viewership. According to MLS statistics, Inter Miami leads the pack of nine teams with strong growth in the number of attendees per game.
To clarify, the average number of attendees for this football team has significantly increased from 12,637 to 17,698 (a 40% increase). These figures surpass those of the eight teams who rank below them: San Jose Earthquakes (+20.7%), Orlando City (+19.3%), NYCFC (+15.3%), Chicago Fire (+14.7%), FC Cincinnati (+12.8%), New England Revolution (+12.8%), CF Montreal (+11.3%) and FC Dallas (+10.6%).
Moreover, MLS Board Member Don Garber expressed his excitement by saying: “History has been made! Our players have given their all on the pitch and the number of fans present was record-breaking. Thank you to everyone who attended MLS matches this season. Your incredible support has helped MLS reach new heights! These are moments that will be even more unforgettable in the years to come.”
In the 2023 MLS season, over 10.9 million fans attended matches, with an average of 22,111 fans per game, an increase of almost 5% from the previous year. This record also surpassed the previous highest record set in 2017 at 22,106. On July 4th, 2023, LA Galaxy hosted Los Angeles FC at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, breaking the MLS record with a reported attendance of 82,110. Just a few weeks later, Messi made his debut for Inter Miami, causing a frenzy among fans and leading to a surge in ticket prices for Inter Miami games, which sold out quickly.
In his recent statement, Messi opened up about the past season and expressed his gratitude towards his fans. He stated that he was proud of Inter Miami’s performance this year, as they managed to secure their first-ever club title and came close to reaching the playoffs. Looking ahead, Messi emphasized the team’s desire to compete even more fiercely in the upcoming season.
I’m confident that we’ll continue to have amazing experiences with this team, city, and club. A big hug to everyone.
After failing to secure a playoff spot, Inter Miami won’t be taking a break and has scheduled two friendly matches in early November in China.