Lionel Messi’s Career Takes Off at DRV PNK Stadium on Friday
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — DRV PNK Stadium was buzzing with anticipation as fans flocked to witness the arrival of Inter Miami’s newest sensation. Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time, made his way down the runway in the center of the field, acknowledging the eager crowd.
Addressing the audience, Messi expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you, Miami. I am delighted to be here with all of you.” With these words, a new chapter in the 36-year-old’s illustrious career begins, not at Barcelona’s Camp Nou or Paris Saint-Germain’s Parc des Princes, but at Inter Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium. The Fort Lauderdale-based venue, adorned with the team’s distinctive pink and black colors, sets the stage for his debut on Friday against Cruz Azul in the League’s Cup. However, the decision to include Messi and fellow newcomer Sergio Busquets in the starting lineup, as well as the duration of their playtime, remains to be determined by Coach Tata Martino.
When Messi announced his move to Inter Miami in June, the relatively young club, only in its fourth season, faced the challenge of quickly renovating the stadium to accommodate the increased attention. Currently, Inter Miami plays its home matches at the 18,000-seat DRV PNK Stadium, located approximately 45 minutes north of the desired site for a permanent complex in Miami. The stadium is a revamp of the previously named Lockhart Stadium, initially intended for high school sports. Positioned across the street from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, it served as the arrival point for Messi and his family last week.
To augment the seating capacity, silver bleachers were recently installed in the northeast and southeast corners of the stadium. This addition provides an extra 3,000 seats; however, the stadium remains far from matching the colossal 100,000-seat capacity of Camp Nou, where Messi achieved international stardom. Stephanie Toothaker, outside counsel for Inter Miami, acknowledged the overwhelming interest in the team, remarking, “You probably could never add enough seats to accommodate all of the interest that the team is experiencing. I think we’ve done as much as we can in such a short period of time.”
A fellow co-owner of Inter Miami, David Beckham, can personally identify with the transition from playing overseas to joining Major League Soccer (MLS). In 2007, after successful years at Manchester United and Real Madrid, Beckham signed with the LA Galaxy. He witnessed the substantial evolution of the league firsthand, stating, “I think there were only 15 teams in the league at that point. Not many teams had soccer-specific stadiums. Now, there are 30 teams in the league, and most of them possess their own stadiums.”
MLS matches this season have averaged just under 23,000 attendees, with Inter Miami averaging 16,482 fans per game. In contrast, Messi played for Argentina in front of more than 50,000 spectators in an exhibition match against Australia in Beijing. Following Messi’s announcement, speculations arose about potentially relocating Inter Miami’s home matches to the 65,000-seat Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, home to the NFL’s Dolphins and a planned venue for the 2026 World Cup. Similar arrangements have been adopted by various MLS teams. Atlanta United FC and Charlotte FC share their home stadiums with the NFL’s Panthers and Falcons. Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta has a capacity of approximately 70,000 for NFL games and 45,000 for soccer games. Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte holds up to 74,000 spectators. Notably, Charlotte FC set an MLS attendance record of 74,479 during their first home game.
However, Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas clarified that the plan is to continue playing the remaining regular-season home matches at DRV PNK Stadium, with the possibility of certain games being held at Hard Rock Stadium. Mas remarked, “We have the U.S. Open Cup semifinal. I anticipate if we were successful at winning that game, I do anticipate that a U.S. Open Cup final will be at a large stadium. If we’re able to be a home team — if Houston wins on the other side of the bracket — I would probably anticipate that game being at Hard Rock. We have a very good relationship with the people at Hard Rock. We could sell 70,000 seats here if we wanted to.”
Evidence of the potential for massive crowds in MLS was recently observed during a match between the LA Galaxy and the Los Angeles Football Club, where a record-breaking 82,110 spectators flocked to the Rose Bowl. MLS Commissioner Don Garber emphasized the league’s commitment to smaller, soccer-specific stadiums but also acknowledged the flexibility to accommodate matches in larger venues if the demand exists. He stated, “If a team wants to play a match in a large stadium and they think they can sell 80,000 seats, the league is going to say, ‘Just tell us where and we’ll show up with the Apple cameras.'” Considering this, it would not be surprising if 70,000 fans were present to witness Messi’s debut in MLS.
The fervor and dedication of Inter Miami fans were exemplified as a group arrived at DRV PNK Stadium as early as 6:45 a.m. on Tuesday, eager to catch a glimpse of Messi during his first training session. Although fans were not permitted into the practice, the media was allowed to witness the opening 15 minutes. Undeterred, these dedicated supporters demonstrated their commitment by braving the heat and rain, eagerly awaiting Messi’s departure from the training complex. The excitement and enthusiasm among fans who have never attended an MLS or Inter Miami game is palpable. Describing his eagerness, Diego Martinez, who traveled from New Jersey and waited for six hours on Tuesday, shared, “I was over there, and I started running. It’s going to be crazy.”
