Writer: Joshua Andino
2 min read June 2023 — With roller-coaster performances from the Heat and Panthers throughout their respective finals, last week’s announcement that Lionel Messi would be joining Inter Miami FC may shape up to be Miami’s high-watermark when it comes to sports this year.
Messi is to many the world’s greatest soccer player. Numerous trophies, recognitions, an illustrious career spanning tenures at renowned clubs FC Barcelona and since 2021 with Paris Saint Germain. When he arrives at Inter Miami and Major League Soccer, he will immediately be thought of as the best player in the league by many pundits. By social media metrics alone, Messi’s inclusion catapulted Inter Miami FC to one of the most followed sports accounts, raising the last-place team’s Instagram to 7.9 million followers from 1 million – more than every NFL, MLB and NHL team save for the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. For comparison, the Miami Heat have 27 million followers across all platforms, the Miami Dolphins 6.5 million, Miami Marlins 1.9 million and Florida Panthers 1.2 million
Messi’s eventual arrival at Inter Miami has highlighted two separate factors. The first is that while Messi may be widely considered to be the world’s greatest player, he faces the unenviable task of helping make Inter Miami into a contender. The team currently ranks last in MLS’s Eastern Conference. The second highlight is that Miami has evolved into a sports powerhouse – between Messi, the NBA’s Miami Heat and the NHL’s Florida Panthers, South Florida is squarely on the sporting radar, regardless of the league.
While Messi has yet to sign with Inter Miami, with his contract with PSG expiring June 30, the Miami Heat and Florida Panthers have given fans a story they won’t soon forget. Both teams managed to force their way into their respective finals as an eighth seed, and despite a hard-fought but nevertheless disappointing exit by the Heat against the Denver Nuggets, the Heat made the Nuggets fight for it, securing their first victory against Denver since 2016 in Game 2 earlier this month. On the ice, the Panthers have repeated a similar story, and are staring down a 3-1 series hole against the Vegas Golden Knights, facing their own do-or-die moment in what could be their last game tonight in Las Vegas.
Fans will no doubt remember this moment in Miami sports, which regardless of outcome saw two underdog teams make it to the very end of their respective finals and the imminent arrival of a bonafide soccer star.
Which brings the focus back to Inter Miami. The region’s youngest major league pro sports team has had a rocky start, and struggled to gain traction on the leaderboards. Messi joining the team immediately elevates Inter Miami into a potential force – with the most notable change evident in the cost of ticket prices, which have since shot up hundreds of dollars. The Miami Herald noted that the price for Messi’s first scheduled game with Miami against Cruz Azul had increased 1,034%. Resale tickets varied anywhere from $810 to $20,701 and single-game tickets have yet to be made available.
The sudden change in prices comes even as the team lacks a proper home stadium. It is currently based at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, where plans are underway to add 3,000 seats, closing the corners and increasing capacity to 22,000 total. The move highlights the temporary nature of the stadium, which was built to house the team until the construction of Miami Freedom Park, and provides a stark contrast to the Heat’s and Panthers’ longtime homes at the Kaseya Center or FLA Live Arena, respectively.
Messi’s addition to the team may instill a new sense of urgency in the completion of Miami Freedom Park, which has been controversial ever since team owner, and star in his own right, David Beckham announced in 2014 his intention to build a facility near Port Miami and Downtown – a plan that would eventually morph into today’s current iteration at Melreese Golf Course adjacent to Miami International Airport.
While the Heat may have been unable to secure their fourth championship win, and the Panthers face what could be their final chance this season to stay alive and secure the Stanley Cup, Messi’s decision to join Miami will nevertheless cement the city and wider region as a powerhouse in the pro sports realm, with fans confident in the knowledge that their local teams are competitive organizations capable of providing nail-biting games and all the stress – and enjoyment – that their respective games provide.
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