Available in Miami are Messy Chicken, Messy Burgers, Messy Beer

 Available in Miami are Messy Chicken, Messy Burgers, Messy Beer

Available in Miami are Messy Chicken, Messy Burgers, Messy Beer(Image credit-yahoo)

"I am going to Inter Miami" – With Lionel Messi's announcement, it seems like a change has occurred in United States football. From the perspective of popularity, this move has brought United States football into the center of discussion, leaving behind its previous status. For nearly three months now, there has been excitement both on and off the field due to Messi's arrival in the American nation.

In the midst of this, Messi has brought revolutionary changes to Inter Miami's playing field. Under his leadership, Inter Miami has achieved their first-ever championship appearance and secured a place in the finals of another tournament. They even have dreams of making it to the playoffs in Major League Soccer (MLS) after being at the bottom. The state of the field has changed, and the atmosphere outside the field is even more energetic. The entire country is caught in Messi-mania.

The once ordinary pink jerseys of Miami now seem to symbolize American football. Messi's face can be seen on Miami's number 10 jersey everywhere. From billboards, public transportation, television ads, to even merchandise stores, it's all about Messi. Even local bars are selling "Messi Pale Ale," and "The Hard Rock Café" is offering a "Messi Chicken Sandwich" and a "Messi Burger." Local beer vendors are even selling "Messi Beer." Miami's jerseys have been altered with the letters "GOAT" (Greatest of All Time) above the number 10 (Messi's jersey number).

This Messi-centric environment has led to a frenzy of ticket sales for Inter Miami matches since his arrival. Ticket prices have seen unusual spikes, ranging from $110 to $690. The latest Los Angeles match ticket prices were particularly astonishing, reaching 527%. That day witnessed a new record for MLS ticket sales, with the cheapest ticket priced at around $900. The same scenario can be seen in jersey sales. As soon as they hit the market, the jerseys sold out within moments, and even those who pre-ordered are expected to wait until October.

Florida Atlantic University's Professor of Sports History and African-American Studies, Jermaine Scott, commented, "It's as if everything has changed overnight in a literal sense. Something like this has never been seen before."

The Messi effect is drawing not only local fans but also celebrities to the stadium. Figures like Kim Kardashian, LeBron James, Serena Williams, Puff Daddy, DJ Khaled, Leonardo DiCaprio, Prince Harry, and Selena Gomez have been spotted at Messi's games.

According to the online ticket-selling platform TicketPick, ticket prices have seen an abnormal increase after Messi's arrival. Ticket prices have surged from an average of $500 to $690. The talk of the town is the ticket prices for the latest Los Angeles match. The ticket prices reached 527%, making it a historic day in MLS ticket sales. The cheapest ticket was priced at $900. The same situation applies to jersey sales. As soon as they hit the market, the jerseys sold out within moments, and even those who pre-ordered are expected to wait until October.

Messi's arrival has had a revolutionary impact even through social media. Before Messi's announcement of joining Inter Miami at the beginning of summer, the club had 1 million followers on Instagram. Now, that number has exceeded 15 million. This surge in followers isn't limited to just soccer fans but has also extended to ice hockey, baseball, and American football.

Messi's presence has also altered the commercial landscape of MLS. In a single day after his unveiling, Messi became the most subscribed athlete on Apple TV and MLS streaming services. Since then, these numbers have rapidly increased. Messi's arrival has given a new boost to Apple's deal with MLS, benefiting Messi as well because his contract includes a share of the local revenue.

Comparisons are being made between Messi's arrival and LeBron James' joining Miami Heat in 2010, creating a similar frenzy. However, due to football's global popularity, this frenzy isn't limited to Miami but is reverberating throughout the world. Professor Scott remarked, "I don't want to diminish what LeBron James did. He was a phenomenon in American sports. But when Messi arrived here, we attracted the entire world to ourselves in a way that has never been seen before. The support we see at this moment is unbelievable."

For a long time, Miami had been associated with a sensationalized perception due to issues such as drugs, violence, and organized crime, which were prevalent in the city since the 1970s, during the era of Cocaine Cowboys (the name for the drug empire). Miami was once seen as a failed city. It was featured in films where the city's perilous reputation played a significant role. This city was not known for an instant transformation. However, Messi's arrival has considerably changed the prevailing perception about the city.

Argentine artist Augusto Esquivel, who has been living in Miami since 2001, stated, "This (Messi's arrival) has given us legitimacy. Not because he is an extraordinary athlete but because he is a good person and a family man. He is working here as a transformative force."

Since 2001, the renowned Argentine artist Agustín Esquivel has been living in Miami. He stated, "This (Messi's arrival) has given us legitimacy. Not because he is an extraordinary athlete but because he is a good person and a family man. He is working here as a transformative force."