Lionel Messi’s arrival in the U.S. men’s professional soccer league has had an unprecedented impact. Since joining Inter Miami CF, ticket prices have skyrocketed, merchandise sales have reached record-breaking levels, and TV and streaming viewership have surged. However, despite Messi’s influence, MLS still falls behind more established leagues like the NFL and NBA in terms of viewership and ticket prices.
To compete with these other leagues, MLS needs more players like Messi, who can attract fans and increase viewership. The league has a history of bringing in star players like David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, and Thierry Henry, but they usually join in the twilight of their careers. However, the competition for top players has intensified with Saudi Arabia joining the mix and offering lucrative contracts to players like Messi, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Karim Benzema.
Messi’s presence in MLS has given the league a much-needed boost. Inter Miami has become the highest-selling MLS team for tickets since Messi joined, and he is the top-selling player across all sports on Fanatics. The team has also seen a surge in merchandise sales and has been a boost to MLS’ TV home on Apple’s streaming service.
While ticket prices and viewership have increased since Messi’s arrival, they still lag behind the NFL and NBA. The average ticket price for Inter Miami on StubHub is nearly 64% higher than the league average, but it’s still lower than average ticket prices for NFL Sunday games. Viewership for MLS games also lags behind, although it has seen an increase since Messi joined.
MLS has signed a 10-year deal with Apple to broadcast matches, primarily through streaming. The league aims to expand its fan base across U.S. borders and cater to its young fanbase, which leans towards streaming. However, MLS also has deals with traditional TV networks to air select games.
MLS has made significant investments in clubs, players, and stadiums to grow its following. Messi’s presence validates MLS’ growth and global presence, and it’s expected that more players of his caliber will be attracted to the league in the future.
In conclusion, Lionel Messi’s impact on MLS has been significant, with increased ticket prices, merchandise sales, and viewership. However, the league still has a long way to go to catch up with the NFL and NBA. MLS needs more players like Messi, and it faces competition from other leagues and the lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia. Despite these challenges, MLS is investing in its growth and aims to expand its fan base through streaming and traditional TV deals.
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