Inter Miami building new stands at DRV PNK stadium ahead of Lionel Messi arrival

Inter Miami have begun to build new stands at DRV PNK stadium in anticipation of Lionel Messi’s imminent arrival.

Photos that surfaced on social media showed the Major League Soccer club progressing with plans to add bleachers in three corners of the stadium, expanding its capacity by 3,000 fans.

DRV PNK Stadium holds 18,000 people, a capacity the club is eager to increase before the Argentina forward makes his debut for the club on July 21.

📸 Imágenes Exclusivas/Exclusive Images:

Firsthand look at what the additional southeast bleachers look like right now from inside of Drv Pnk Stadium.

The new northeast stands have not yet been risen. #InterMiamiCF #Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/qFQG50g6H1

— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) July 11, 2023

The new stands came from the F1 facility at Hard Rock Stadium, according to NBC Miami.

Tickets to see the 36-year-old’s debut for the club are almost completely sold out, including tickets for the newly-built sections of the stadium which were available for $200 each. However, tickets for two of the new stands are still available for July 21.

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The new Southeast bleachers are up in the corner of DRV PNK Stadium, making more room for Messi fans. Those seats at $200 for his debut game July 21 and $145 for July 25 game through team Ticketmaster site.@MiamiHerald @HeraldSports @InterMiamiCF #InterMiamiCF #MLS #Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/xgLgFyOePe

— Michelle Kaufman (@kaufsports) July 12, 2023

Mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Dean J. Trantalis, announced last month that: “The city and the Inter Miami soccer team have reached an agreement on outstanding issues as we look forward to Messi’s arrival next month to join the team.

“The $1.4 million in building permit fees owed is being transferred now from an escrow account of our outside mediator to the city. The city has agreed to do all it can to expedite the final certificate of occupancy for DRV PNK Stadium and move as fast as possible to allow the construction of additional seating.

“We continue to be honored to be home to Inter Miami and foresee a new level of excitement brought by Messi’s arrival.”

(Photo: Getty Images)