Last Updated: March 30, 2024, 15:26 IST
A fan wearing a Lionel Messi jersey watches the second half of an MLS soccer match between DC United and Inter Miami. (AP Photo)
The number is expected to eclipse the club’s previous record of 61,316 attendance from the New England Patriots’ 2002 MLS Cup hosting of the LA Galaxy.
The arrival of Lionel Messi in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States has brought about a new wave of excitement in the country. Inter Miami, Messi’s new team after he left Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023, are among the most-followed outfits in the MLS.
The marketing strategy by legendary David Beckham has paid dividends not just on the pitch, but off it as well. The Herons won their first-ever title since MLS approved Beckham’s expansion team in 2018, winning the 2023 Leagues Cup.
Now, it seems that Messi’s impact is not just limited to his team Inter Miami. In April, the club is set to visit the relegation-threatened New England Revolution.
According to an official press release by the Revs, more than 60,000 tickets for the Inter Miami match were sold as of March 27.
The number is expected to eclipse the club’s previous record of 61,316 attendance from the New England Patriots’ 2002 MLS Cup hosting of the LA Galaxy.
The previous record for most people attending a Revolution home game during the regular season was set in 1997 when New England played the Tampa Bay Mutiny as part of a doubleheader that also included a World Cup qualifying game between Mexico and the United States.
Opened in 2002, the Gillette Stadium is also home to the New England Patriots, six-time Super Bowl winners. In 2015, 42,947 people attended a Revolution regular-season game at the stadium, setting a record.
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Even while supporters are clamoring to see Messi in Foxborough, it is unclear if the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will actually show up.
Due to a hamstring injury, the 36-year-old has missed Inter Miami’s previous two MLS games in addition to missing two Argentina friendlies in the recently-concluded international break.
Inter Miami will next face New York City FC at Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, March 31, as they aim to climb to the top spot in the MLS Eastern Conference. They are currently placed at the second spot of the MLS Eastern Conference.
From six matches so far they have collected 10 points.