Looking for tickets to see Lionel Messi in Frisco on Sunday? Get ready to spend possibly thousands of dollars.
Tickets officially sold out for Sunday’s Inter Miami-FC Dallas match after less than 30 minutes, according to FC Dallas, with most fans shut out from the lengthy digital queue that formed on the team’s official website. But hours before they went on sale to the general public, starting at $199 apiece, secondary markets already seized the opportunity with pricey listings to see the game’s best player.
Check the AXS resale marketplace for any additional tickets that may become available. pic.twitter.com/ybl0LsTFro
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) August 3, 2023
Season-ticket holders got first crack at tickets last night and had already started selling them on sites like StubHub. They were all listed for at least $600, with many above the $1,000 threshold. A pair of front-row seats were listed for $13,500 apiece.
The FCD ticket site crashed about 90 minutes before the 11 a.m. start time for general sale, but it was up and running before they went on sale. Users had to wait in an online queue for the chance to purchase tickets, proving they were human in an effort to combat bots who would snatch up tickets and then turn them around for a tidy profit.
Original story
Lionel Messi is officially coming to a soccer stadium near you, but getting tickets to watch the iconic Argentinian is another story.
Messi and Inter Miami will face FC Dallas on Sunday at Frisco’s Toyota Stadium in the Leagues Cup Round of 16. The time has not yet been announced, but the match would likely kick off sometime between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.
FCD, which beat Liga MX side Mazatlán 2-1 on Wednesday to set up the match, expects a sellout crowd for Messi’s first road appearance as an MLS player. Miami beat Orlando City 3-1 to send its side into the next round.
Tickets will go on sale at 11 a.m. Thursday, according to the club, but only after season-ticket holders are given first crack at what might be the hottest ticket in North Texas soccer history. Toyota Stadium’s capacity is 20,500. Thirty minutes before FCD’s official on-site sale started, tickets were listed on secondary markets rangings from $600 to $13,500 -- most tickets were in the $700-$800 range. The $13,500 tickets are front-row seats.
FCD released a statement to The Dallas Morning News with details about the match:
“Shortly after FC Dallas beat Mazatlán FC in the Round of 32 match, we extended a presale opportunity to select FC Dallas fans including our Season Ticket Members.
“A limited quantity of tickets to Sunday’s match will be on sale to the general public beginning at 11AM CT Thursday morning at FCDallasTickets.com. We anticipate these to sell very quickly.”
The 36-year-old World Cup winner is expected to pack stadiums across the country, with MLS clubs reaping the benefit of fans eager to see one of the sport’s top talents.
Messi made a sensational debut for Inter Miami last month by scoring the game-winning goal with a Messi-esque free kick in stoppage time, easily giving fans their money’s worth.
But this may be the only real shot fans in Texas have to see Messi in the Lone Star State.
FCD, Austin FC and Houston won’t host a regular-season match against Inter Miami this season. FCD already played at Miami, and the MLS schedule makes it tough to guarantee the Argentinian will soon play in Texas.
It is too early to tell what Inter Miami’s away schedule will be for the 2024 season, but it will only play a few road games against Western Conference teams.
Staff writer Abraham Nudelstejer contributed to this report.
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