Messi effect: Inter Miami’s newest star helps boost Apple’s MLS Season Pass to ‘nearly 1million subscribers’ as club’s upcoming ticket prices soar to $11K for MLS game against LAFC
- Apple and MLS are in the first year of a ten-year broadcasting partnership
- And Lionel Messi’s debut has coincided with a boost in subscribers
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Lionel Messi has gotten off to a scorching hot start with Inter Miami, and his blockbuster arrival is certainly not hurting the streaming numbers of Apple’s MLS Season Pass.
According to Sports Business Journal, the service – which broadcasts all MLS games, and has also shown Messi’s first two games in the Leagues Cup – is approaching one million subscribers.
That reportedly follows an increase of 300,000 people since early June, though it’s hard to pinpoint exactly how many people have signed up due to Messi.
For one, MLS Season Pass is given to every MLS Season ticket holder account.
Additionally, T-Mobile customers were also gifted the service for a year.
Lionel Messi scored a spectacular brace on Tuesday before Robert Taylor two of his own
Messi opened the scoring in the eighth minute by effortlessly putting home a rebound
Prices to watch Messi have reached astronomical levels, with DRV PNK stadium full on Tuesday
Apple is in the first year of a ten-year, $2.5billion broadcasting deal with MLS, and the enthusiasm for the World Cup winner Messi is evidently going beyond the screen as well.
Ticket prices for his trip to LAFC have reached more than $11,000 on SeatGeek, while the same is true of Miami’s date with the New York Red Bulls in Harrison, New Jersey on August 26.
Prices for the No. 10’s Miami debut previously reached astronomical highs of $110,000 on the secondary market.
Of course, Messi gave fans the show they were hoping for after coming on as a sub, scoring a 94th-minute free kick to give Miami a 2-1 win over Mexican side Cruz Azul.
The Argentine continued his strong start to life in the USA on Tuesday, with a two-goal, one-assist effort vs. Atlanta United.
Miami easily won the game 4-0 and have now booked their place in the Leagues Cup Round of 32.
Messi’s first MLS match is on August 20 vs. Charlotte, and while the club is currently languishing at the bottom of the league’s standings, that may not be the case much longer with Messi on board.