Chicago Fire promise ticket credits to fans if Inter Miami’s Messi misses Chicago’s home game due to injury

With Inter Miami star Lionel Messi missing time with an ankle injury, the Chicago Fire are offering a great deal to fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the football icon. The MLS club is encouraging fans to watch the Fire’s home game against Inter Miami on August 31, with or without the Argentine midfielder, offering credit if Messi doesn’t play.

If Messi is still out at the end of August, Chicago will provide what it calls a “Fan-First Credit Guarantee.” On a Press releasethe team claims the incentive will encourage fans to pack Soldier Field with a packed crowd, regardless of Messi’s injury status.

If Messi is unavailable to play in the match, fans who purchased tickets will receive one of three benefits: season ticket subscription credit, free tickets to the Fire fans’ appreciation match in October, or single-game tickets to next year’s clash against Inter. Miami. The benefits, per team, depend on the date of purchase.

Messi suffered a serious ankle injury during the Copa América final on Monday, missing the end of the match as Argentina defeated Colombia 1-0. The injury, which Inter Miami announced due to an injury to the ligament in his right ankle, he should be kept out for at least the next two games. Inter Miami captain Messi watched the team’s 3-1 home win over Toronto on Wednesday but remained in the stands.

Chicago’s contingency plan is likely based on what happened last year, when more than 61,000 fans bought tickets to see Messi at Soldier Field, only for the Argentine to be absent from the starting lineup. Messi missed several games last fall, including the October match against Chicago, due to what was described as “muscle fatigue.”

The Fire attempted to compensate for Messi’s then-unknown injury by offering fans a $250 account credit toward a subscription for the 2024 season for fans who purchased single-game tickets for the match.

With Messi’s popularity being a factor in the rise in MLS ticket sales, Chicago is not the only team to add a Messi clause to ticket purchases or adjust to Messi’s absence.

In November, the New York Red Bulls two-game holiday special ticket packagewhere fans could get tickets to RBNY’s home opener and the Hudson River Derby against New York City FC, included a clause if the home opener ended up being against Inter Miami. (RBNY ended up playing Nashville SC in the home opener, so the clause did not go into effect.)

In May, after Messi and fellow Inter Miami stars Sergio Busquets and Luis Suárez did not travel to Vancouver for the team’s clash against the Vancouver Whitecaps, the Whitecaps made stadium concessions at 50% off in an attempt to lift spirits. of the participants.

Inter Miami plays Chicago on Saturday in Ft. Lauderdale, marking the first time the two will face each other this season. If Messi follows the two-game injury schedule, his next opportunity to play will be in two League Cup matches on July 27th and August 3rd.