New York Red Bulls add Lionel Messi clause to ticket deal

ESPN News ServiceNovember 22, 2023 02:22 pm ET3 min read

The New York Red Bulls’ holiday ticket promotion covers next season’s home opener, but there’s a catch in the fine print: The game against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami CF isn’t included.

The Red Bulls sent an email to consumers on Tuesday offering a two-game “holiday package” that includes next season’s home opener and a derby against rival New York City FC. Prices for each set of tickets range from $98 for corner/end line, $125 for corner end/upper sideline, $174 for sideline A/upper center field, and $495 for club seats.

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But there is an asterisk next to the home opener, and at the bottom of the email, the asterisk explains in small print: “If RBNY plays Inter Miami in the home opener, each home opener ticket will be replaced with an RBNY ticket.” Two home games.”

MLS announced the schedule on December 20 last year.

Red Bull declined to comment on the promotion, spokesman Zachary Leahy said Wednesday.

It’s not exactly the Red Bulls’ thing to see spikes in gate and gate prices when Messi is expected to play, as the Columbus Crew have announced that tickets for their 2024 home game against Miami will range from $382 to $679. Fans can purchase tickets to most Crew home games next year during the regular season for just $40.

But the Columbus Crew will charge at least $382 for a home game against Miami, while better seats are $421 and $679. By comparison, tickets to regular Crew games this year can be had for as low as $40, or even less as part of a season ticket package. “

World Cup-winning Argentina captain Messi joined Miami in July. The 36-year-old attacker scored in his MLS debut for the Red Bulls on August 26, his only goal in six league games.

The former Barcelona star suffered the injury in his country’s 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Brazil on Tuesday but will be given plenty of time to recover ahead of his first full season in Major League Soccer in 2024.

This report used information from The Associated Press.