Arrr, me hearties! Cap'n Lionel Messi be makin' his grand entrance with Inter Miami on Friday, embarkin' on a new adventure in his epic tale o' soccer!
2023-07-20
Avast ye, me mateys! When Lionel Messi treads upon the turf in Fort Lauderdale this eve, he shall set sail on his grand voyage to the next tale of his wondrous career. Arrr, legends be made!
The DRV PNK Stadium was packed with eager fans, ready to catch a glimpse of Inter Miami's new superstar, Lionel Messi. Standing in the middle of the field, Messi addressed the crowd, expressing his happiness to be there. This marked the beginning of the next chapter in Messi's career, as he prepares to make his debut for Inter Miami against Cruz Azul in the League's Cup.When Messi announced his move to Inter Miami, the club had to quickly make renovations to accommodate the added attention. The stadium, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is currently the team's home venue. It was originally designed for high school sports and has undergone recent additions to increase capacity.
While the stadium holds around 18,000 seats, it is still far from the grandeur of Camp Nou, where Messi rose to international stardom. Inter Miami's co-owner, Stephanie Toothaker, acknowledged the overwhelming interest in the team and the limitations of their current stadium.
MLS has seen significant growth since Beckham's move to LA Galaxy in 2007. Many teams now play in soccer-specific stadiums, with average attendance around 23,000. Inter Miami has been averaging around 16,482 spectators per match. Speculation arose that the team might move its home matches to the larger Hard Rock Stadium, but for now, they plan to continue playing at DRV PNK Stadium.
Despite the smaller venue, the anticipation for Messi's arrival is immense. His first training session drew a crowd of fans, some of whom had traveled from far away. They eagerly awaited the chance to catch a glimpse of their new star. Die-hard fans who had never been to an MLS or Inter Miami game before are now making plans to attend Friday's match.
Overall, the arrival of Lionel Messi has brought a wave of excitement to Inter Miami and MLS as a whole. The league's growth over the years has made it possible for teams to play in larger stadiums, and the presence of superstars like Messi only adds to the spectacle.