Empty seats visible at Messi’s second Inter Miami match

At kickoff of Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup match against Atlanta United on Tuesday night, wide swaths of empty seats were visible at DRV PNK Stadium.

It was a far cry from the scene for Messi’s debut last Friday, when thousands of fans arrived hours early for the match, creating a carnival-like atmosphere for what most would call the most highly anticipated debut in league history.

While that match was a sellout, official tickets still remained for Tuesday’s encounter right up until the opening whistle, the large majority of which were selling for $220-$280. Some of the venue’s most expensive tickets also went unsold — Miami has priced some field-level tickets above $1,000.

Prices plummeted on the secondary market, where some seats had gone for thousands in recent days. In the half-hour leading up to the match, tickets in some of the more desirable areas of the stadium could be had for as little as $75. Several sections near midfield behind the benches had large chunks of seats empty. Dozens of those seats were listed on the secondary market at kickoff, with asking prices north of $300 and $400.

All told, the stadium appeared maybe 80 percent full at kickoff. Weekday matches, generally speaking, are a tough sell for MLS fans. The temperature at kickoff may have also been an issue, with a heat index approaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit. More than 15 minutes into the first half — and after Messi scored his second goal as an Inter Miami player — streams of fans were seen walking up the aisles in sections around the stadium, a late-arriving South Florida crowd. Thirty minutes into the first half, the stands had filled in more and it looked to be near 90 percent capacity.

But many fans appeared to make a hasty exit after Messi was subbed off in the second half. He scored twice, in the eighth and 22nd minutes, and had one assist in the 4-0 win.

Even with the empty seats, Miami’s attendance Tuesday was a far cry from the depths it sunk to prior to Messi’s arrival. The club has long struggled with its attendance — in 2022, Miami had the lowest attendance in MLS, an average of 12,637 fans per game.

Notably, there were still several celebrities in attendance. DJ Khaled sat in one of the field-side suites alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs and Camila Cabello. DJ Khaled’s son was the player escort for Messi ahead of the game.

(Photo: Pablo Maurer / The Athletic)