Lionel Messi's Miami Debut Sparks Soccer Frenzy
South Florida businesses are preparing for Lionel Messi's American soccer debut, but the immediate economic impact may be more muted than expected. Despite the city's warm welcome with Messi murals and a sold-out game, ticket prices on the resale market have dipped below $200. Factors such as the summer season, an ongoing heatwave, and reselling of tickets may dampen the event's financial impact. Fort Lauderdale, where the game will be played, hopes to benefit from the influx of visitors. While the full impact on the local economy is yet to be assessed, there has been an increase in searches for Inter Miami and the team projects doubled revenues and franchise value in the next year.
