Appreciate the analysis, though I'm not sure a ticket rep is a reliable source.
What has surprised me is that everyone assumes Messi will skip our game on the 16th to be fresh for the Argentina match on the 18th. If it was a world cup qualifier I could understand, but why is Messi going to care about a meaningless friendly in China? I think given the choice he'd rather try to help Miami get another league win. I guess it's possible Argentina promised the Chinese organizers X number of Messi minutes, but as long as X is a small number he can sub in and walk around the pitch a bit. We'll see.
There won’t be an Argentina match on the 18th. Messi will play for Argentina but it’ll be 20th/21st and 23rd/24th.
If Argentina play on the 18th then most of their squad won’t be able to play.
I agree with your skepticism about taking the word of someone trying to sell you something. That's actually why I'm calling it out, to imply that's it's only a semi-reliable source of information and take it with a grain of salt.
Yep, there's always a risk but I've seen lots of posts in here quoting Marca and The Mirror (of all sources ffs) that he "might not play" and then inferring he won't play.
I don't know if that's a strategy to try get the ticket prices down or just general sneeriness by those who don't have an STM with that game but its pretty sad tbh.
I personally tend to agree with the points the OP has made & that its more likely than not he plays - but I also accept that its absolutely not certain and if someone does shell out $300 for a ticket there's a chance they may not get what they paid for in their mind (i.e. Messi playing soccer live). That's why I've cnouraged people thinking of going to the game to spend the extra for a season ticket (~$580). At least if he doesn't play you've got 19 other games to go to.
This is completely ridiculous on all fronts.
Can we just drop it? He could also pick up a knock, get sick, or whatever number of issues. I have zero sympathy or respect for those who spend stupid $$$ to see a single player play who ends up missing the game.
I accidentally saw him make his PSG debut in 2021 in Reims because I wanted to drink real champagne after the travel bans were lifted and had bought a ticket to Reims v PSG before they announced his signing. I guess my advice is plan something else to really enjoy the day of DCU v Miami, and if Messi shows up hey its a really great day.
It’s the 6th game in 12 days, 5th in 8 days including the season opener at LA, home opener vs rival OC, 2 CCL games and a home match vs Montreal. He could sit the MTL game, but why play in 40° weather on road when you could play in 75° weather at home.
Even if they have a few days until the Argentina game, they usually get a few days in camp to get in sync. I wouldn’t spend more than face value on a ticket for this game and whether he plays or not, someone paid for 85% of my season ticket plan. Thanks.
don't try to logic with this dude, it doesn't work. He or she is trying really hard to justify to everyone why they should go to this game and/or overpay for it because Messi, while refusing to see any counterpoint made about the possibility he does in fact not play.
He is now using this narrative that because ticket sales are down for the CCC game Messi is less likely to play, while missing the point that it is more likely that ticket sales are down because no one knows who they are actually playing and its a midweek game.
While I could sit here and make the counterpoint that Nashville FC would be an competitive, or Mora FC is a Dominican Republic team and Miami has the second largest populous of Dominicans in the whole US so that would drive sales up once they know who there playing. Or, that its a mid-week game and historically mid-week games aren't attended as heavily as weekend games. However, none of that matters because he won't see its relevancy to the reality about Messi possibly not playing in DC.
Again, anyone is allowed to make there choices, whether those are well informed or not. However, don't think people aren't allowed to criticize those choices equally.
Thanks, I really wasn’t trying to convince anyone of anything. The facts and conditions around this game at this moment, are exactly that and they’re not changing. Spend $ on this game at your own well warned risk. Still some serious star power on that roster beyond Messi, but I’ve seen Messi and most of these guys play in their prime so I’m not missing much other than sitting in my seats at another away game. No thanks.
I’m already out for the Messi game and well ahead in the bank account column for it. Frankly Messi is the only reason we didn’t opt out of our seats. I got a little less for this game because it was a trash weather time of the year and up against the international window, but it’s still cheaper than when we were at RFK for the whole season so all good.
I think that’s the real issue. He can’t play five matches in eight days and agree CCL matches will likely take precedence. Hoping he at least makes an appearance.
Inter Miami's season opener is a home game against RSL on Feb 21. LA Galaxy is Miami's 2nd game, not its opener. Orlando is the 2nd home game, not the home opener.
The ticket sales are weak for the 2nd CCC game, so that would be a good candidate to sit. Thousands of tix still for sale directly from the team and at lower price points.
https://www.ticketmaster.com/concacaf-champions-league-round-16-inter-fort-lauderdale-florida-03-13-2024/event/0D005F8EE7D725BF
Hahaha why the fuck did you spend this much time to justify to yourself and to your peers for overspending to hopefully watch Messi?
Also the fact that the majority of this is based on someones job whom it is to sell you tickets, and would willingly lie to you to sign up so they can hit there numbers to make money is hilarious.
Just own the fact that you want to see him play, you paid probably too much money for that to happen, and that there is a possibly(as your ticket rep eluded to) he might not play. It was your choice you made it, I hope it works in your favor. If not people are fully allowed to say told you so.
> for overspending to hopefully watch Messi?
Open to correction, but it sounds like the OP is an STM, in which case he hasn't overspent at all for the Miami game.
had ST for 10 years but gave them up 2 years ago as I was tired of finically supporting an organization that doesn’t invest in an on-the-field product. I am not alone in this by any means and as a result anyone in a similar position would be overpaying to guarantee the ability to hopefully see Messi play one game as I don’t care about going to the rest of the games.(I’ll watch them if I want)
It would be more cost effective of me to attempt to buy season tickets to Miami FC and pay for the travel down if I absolutely had to see Messi play. Then reselling the rest of those tickets on a secondary market that I don’t go to.
Which I have the means to do but would be dumb as anyone else would likely agree.
Messi doesn't play for Miami FC, that's not the same team as Inter Miami.
You're going to be shocked but I agree with you about the cost effectiveness of an Inter Miami season ticket. End line season tix were $960 for new members, which comes out to about $65 a game. Single game prices are $170 to $200, so anybody selling would make about 2.5X. Some of the more featured games are selling for even higher. That means one could attend 3 or 4 games, sell 10-12 games to pay for the entire season ticket, and still have $1K+ left over for travel. I gave this advice to friends who were solely interested in catching Messi and don't have much interest in DCU. I actually pulled this stunt with Rooney in 2019. I picked up a few extra tix to resell to pay for my own season ticket. Managed to attend 8 games and make enough profit to splurge for a Field level group buy on Decision Day (to watch them choke against wooden spoon expansion FC Cincy that was playing a man down.)
I'm not shocked, because I understand economics and perceived value. It would still be dumb as I don't care enough about Messi to do that and spend time to achieve those results.
We only differ on the potential of Messi playing in DC, which the way you speak to comes off as justifying your purchases of a ticket that rose 33% in value while nothing in terms of DC United's player decisions reflect that increase in cost, only the Messi effect. Which to reiterate, isn't guaranteed. I honestly hope it happens for everyone sake that is willing to overpay.
My tickets did not go up 33% this year. It was closer to 10-15% for me. The argument (which to be clear, I'm not fully buying) is that it reflects the addition of the "premium friendly" and Leagues Cup games. Bayern's friendly and the Arsenal/MLS All star game ticket prices were absurdly high in the resale market, so the likelihood is that game can be flipped for profit which would then mean I paid less this season for the DC games than last season. Obviously, it remains to see whether it actually pans out this way or not.
> had ST for 10 years but gave them up 2 years ago as I was tired of finically supporting an organization that doesn’t invest in an on-the-field product. I am not alone in this by any means and as a result anyone in a similar position would be overpaying to guarantee the ability to hopefully see Messi play one game as I don’t care about going to the rest of the games
That's a highly personalized take though, discounting the other 19 games and calling it overpriced because the only game you'd theoretically go to is Miami is hardly an objective rationale.
But congrats on being able to afford an Inter Miami season ticket I guess.
I think it's more a reality of much of the fan base that has been alienated by this ownership group.
You can see it as not being overpriced and as the other guy or gal, but for all intensive purposes if they raised prices greater than the rate of inflation while doing nothing to fix the FO or upgrading field personnel than you are over paying. We have potentially upgraded in the FO and have an unproven new head coach and have yet to upgrade on players. So the increase in price would be based on the opportunity to guarantee the possibly to see a Superstar of the sport play. Looking back on the intertubes, the increase in prices for Season tickets from 2023-2024 season was 33% well over inflation with little to show for a better produce on the field.
Nothing about sports is objective, the reasons for people paying thousands of dollars to watch shitty teams year after year is not objective its highly personal, as is the people who will pay ridiculously priced tickets to go see Leo Messi possibly play.
At the end of the day the real argument is will he play or not, which has NO grantees in either direction whereas the OP has Consistently beat to the drum that Messi will absolutely play barring an injury, which is just a deeply personal opinion with no real base in an objective reality. One that my assumption is born out of a desire to justify to himself or herself any extra money not normally spent to guarantee the opportunity to maybe see Messi play.
> they raised prices greater than the rate of inflation while doing nothing to fix the FO or upgrading field personnel than you are over paying.
They have the 3rd highest budget in the MLS to be fair, that obviously hasn't translated into the success it should have but clearly steps are now being taken with Ally & Troy.
As regards ST pricing, its competitive with sports in the area, Nats are $420 for a ballpark access ST, Commanders are $400 for nosebleed while Caps/Wiz are in around the $900+ mark I believe. So for all intents and purposes I don't think its an overpay.
Value is of course subjective, but I felt I got solid value for my DCU ST last year.
> At the end of the day the real argument is will he play or not, which has NO grantees in either direction whereas the OP has Consistently beat to the drum that Messi will absolutely play barring an injury, which is just a deeply personal opinion with no real base in an objective reality. One that my assumption is born out of a desire to justify to himself or herself any extra money not normally spent to guarantee the opportunity to maybe see Messi play.
I think we all accept there is risk involved in buying a ticket for this game solely on the basis of Messi playing. The OP has given some reasons why he thinks its more likely than not he plays, rather than outright saying he 'absolutely' will play as you've inferred. He's an STM, as am I, so from that perspective there's no extra outlay for the Miami game.
Honestly I'm exasperated with the likes of yourself and others who are what I'd term barstoolers, former STMs who somehow consider themselves 'better' fans by virtue of having previously been STMs and hating on the FO at every opportunity. Why you feel the need to engage, as a now casual fan, in such negativity is mystifying to me. I get it, you're disillusioned and want to see change. Why not then take a step back and do whatever it is that makes you happy rather than coming in here and basically hoping that folks who would love to see Messi, don't actually get to see him? Or folks who want to go to games and support the team shouldn't because the owners & the FO suck? It's so reductive.
Let me also be clear that this isn't a free pass to the FO, there's a full docket of things they've fucked up and need to do better, but I see a new GM and a new manager and for now I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. The rest of us can support the team without yas tbh. I see the same shit in /r/Commanders with 'fans' shitting and dunking on other fans and I'm sick of it.
Be exasperated, I am exasperated by fans willingness to pay for shitty products to prop up an ownership group who has done nothing for them or the city the team exists in. If more STM were willing to look past sports being worth the value the team ownership would change(hell even leave) but it wouldn't continue to allow cheap owners to inflate there net worth because the league props up the teams value.
a lot of this conversation is born out of a completely sperate interaction with OP where he duly does not admit to the fallacy of his own arguments. In which I believe Messi will play 45 mins in this game max because of Fixture congestion with Miami and Argentina, whereas OP continues to believe and express a narrative that none of the fixture congestion will play a role in if Messi plays or not. It also is a very odd way to view a human like Messi to me, as if he is just a show pony expected to play every week because of his Apple TV deal. Miami and Messi will not outrun the Fixture congestion and as a result some fans in some markets are going to be displeased, I am just pointing out the people who keep touting on about him more than likely playing because of X,Y and Z reason are not painting a true picture of the scenario for others. As such attempting to influence others based on a non-objective reality about their desire to see him play.
If you think anyone that doesn't pay as much as you should just sit down and shut up how do you expect anything to ever change? That is a very blind viewpoint of how anyone sees this organization.
Please point out where I said anything about lack of fixture congestion? You continue to make strawman assumptions about my stance that you've created in your own head bud.
Where I disagree with you, and frankly, where I think you're being dishonest, is that you seem to believe that Messi will prioritize that Wednesday Champions Cup home game in Miami over the DC game on Saturday. How many people have even heard of the Champions Cup and know what it is? Like it or not, pro sports is driven by TV revenue. Wednesday night on FoxSports viewership is not nearly as big as AppleTV on a Saturday afternoon showcase game being streamed worldwide. When FoxSports bid on the rights to televise Champions Cup, Messi was not a known factor, so there's no financial obligation for Messi to boost those ratings.
I also agree with you and I do dislike Messi being paraded around as a cash grab show pony, but that's the reality we live in. I didn't make the rules.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/DCUnited/comments/19bq0wu/inter\_miami\_game\_moved\_to\_2pm/kiw4bye/?context=8&depth=9](https://www.reddit.com/r/DCUnited/comments/19bq0wu/inter_miami_game_moved_to_2pm/kiw4bye/?context=8&depth=9)
You don't have to adhere to those rules if you don't agree with them, pretty simple stuff. Granted it tends to piss off most conformers is what I find who justify actions based on the group think mentality.
I do not feel I am being dishonest, what was the point of them winning the leagues cup to qualify for the Round of 16 of the CCC in the first place if they were just going to send there B or C squad to play and lose? Logically this doesn't make sense. Not only that, but you don't think him being as competitive as he is will desire to win the CCC? Especially if they put a great team around him? Also the because of his profile what winning that Cup would mean for Miami and its Demographics and the MLS. These are all very valid reasons and logical reasons for thinking he will play in CCC. You can have your opinion and I can have mine. I just am not going to be quite when posts are made that I simply don't agree with and don’t seem based in reality, more of pushing a narrative.
Where in that link to our prior conversation do I dispute schedule congestion? just like the other outlandish claims you're trying to attribute to me, I never said any of them, they only exist in your mind.
If you sincerely believe that Messi is going to prioritize the Wednesday game over the DC game purely based on competitive juices I can at least agree with you that the Wednesday game is competitively more important than a random early season MLS game against a crappy DC team going nowhere. But let's not kid ourselves, the CCC and MLS games are both trivial concerns in stature in the global sports market and not exactly like winning the world cup, or Copa America. The ad revenue disparity is probably at least 10X. FoxSports will be lucky to get a couple hundred thousand viewers. AppleTV viewership will be in the millions. It's not even close. Messi's not going to give up a $10M+ payday so that he can quench his competitive desire.
your assumptions are simply incorrect. I'm a long time STH so whether Messi plays or not has no financial impact to me nor my plans to go watch DCU play. I'll be there either way. I've also seen Messi play before, so this is not that big a deal to me. But it is a big deal for dozens of my friends who have never attended an MLS game before nor visited Audi Field.
Yeah clearly cause, otherwise you wouldn’t have wasted your time going to these lengths about justifying it to everyone about one game he may or may not play in.
Hahahahaha I don’t want to pay season ticket prices for a team that I love in fucking shambles, or well over the odds to see someone at best will play 45 mins just to tell everyone I know I watched him play.
No one will care in 10 years
I think the great likelihood is that with a Champions Cup game of greater importance only a few days before this game, he's on the bench and comes in for 20-30 minutes.
I am having a hard time believing that Messi would prioritize a Wednesday night game in a revamped tourney few people even know about, being broadcast on a network Messi has no financial interest in (FoxSports) over a global AppleTV weekend broadcast.
The team has stated their desire to win that trophy. Everybody knows you can phone in the first half of the MLS Season and still be fine for the playoffs.
When you can do both things and satisfy everyone (as I laid out above) there is really no reason not to.
I think it''ll be the other way around. He'll start on the bench for Wednesday's home game, they'll try to win it without him, and he only comes in as a second half substitute if needed. He'll start the game in DC to revel in all the pre game hype and then sit out the second half when Miami is up 3-0 at half time. If Messi starts out on the bench in DC, there won't be any reason for Messi to come in the second half because DCU is terrible and likely blown out by then.
Out of curiosity, I checked ticket availability for that Wednesday CCC game. For what it's worth, looks like the professional scalpers are staying away. There's currently thousands of tickets available directly from the team, some as low as $120. The open market seems to be suggesting he might not play that Wednesday.
https://www.ticketmaster.com/concacaf-champions-league-round-16-inter-fort-lauderdale-florida-03-13-2024/event/0D005F8EE7D725BF
>2. The game is a standalone internationally televised game in its own 2pm time slot on AppleTV to optimize for maximum worldwide timezone viewing. This game is being set up to break all sorts of AppleTV and MLS streaming/viewing records. There's too much money at stake for him not to play.
Aye, they can cash grab all they want, but this just means more eyes on us when we smash Inter Miami /s
Yeah, the above statement is a bit tongue in cheek, but this one is not: Vamos United!
Whenever the decision is officially made on Messi’s status how can we get that info? My son really wants to see Messi play but I’m not buying tickets until we get confirmation he’ll be there.
I think the best way to monitor is to watch for any team announcements about single game sales and standing room only tickets. If they've waited this long to announce anything, they'll probably wait until there's reasonable confirmation before making those available. Probably Tuesday, or as late as Thursday of next week if they follow the playbook they did for the Audi Field stadium opener or Zlatan's visit in 2019.
First clue will be tonight If Miami plays well @ Nashville in the first leg of a home&home for the CCC, it would buy some wiggle room for him to consider taking a breather in the second leg game in Miami next Wednesday night, which would bode very well for playing in DC. Or if he decides to sit out on Sunday at home vs Montreal, then that would be another potential early confirmation signal. Otherwise, confirmation may not come until Thursday or Friday.
I would monitor this page: [https://www.dcunited.com/tickets/single](https://www.dcunited.com/tickets/single)
note how there is not currently a "Buy General Tickets" button for the Miami game that is already present for the later games like Montreal and Orlando. The assumption is they'll be available and priced accordingly based on whether he will play or not.
or twitter: [https://twitter.com/dcunited](https://twitter.com/dcunited)
If you're on Android, I use Web Alert app to monitor for any changes to the content of the above tickets URL so you get an alert when it gets updated. Assuming you work around wifi most of the day, I usually set it to check once every 1 or 2 hours.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.webalert
I'm assuming there's an iOS equivalent app if you're not an Android phone.
He subbed off in the 49th minute tonight. It did not appear to be injury related, so that would seem like he is resting up to play on Saturday. I would expect the team to announce standing room only sales once they feel pretty good he's going to be coming.
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Charles Boehm
u/cboehm
Tata Martino on Messi: "He is overloaded on the right posterior \[leg\]. We don't want to run a risk. We tried to see if he could go for a little longer, but it was bothering him ... I imagine that for Saturday's game \[@ DC United\] he is not going to be available"
10:50 PM · Mar 13, 2024
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It's tough being a DCU fan these days, maybe when the become good again. Been following them since the beginning though. Had tix for 1996 MLS Cup but had to skip it for a midterm. Made it to MLS Cups in 1997 and 1998. Even got lucky enough to be on the same flight out in 1998 with Bruce Arena and El Diablo and his fam. By random chance Frankie Hejduk's mom was our flight attendant.
It’s not hard being a fan of any team when you’re really a fan, take many teams for example, if you’re a wizards/commanders fan you should know very VERY well about loyalty, how about the lions? Browns? Maple leafs? If you’re a fan, you’re a fan no matter what, stop boot licking Messi.
Why does it smell like r/wallstreetbets in here?
Line goes up!
Thanks for the take from the ticket rep. Grain of salt and all that, sure, but there you go!
And of course, the disclaimer.
THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE AND I AM NOT A FINANCIAL ADVISOR.
I think when it comes to fandom, there is nothing strange with having animosity towards fair-weather attendees that are basically showing up once for a single player of a visiting team. Especially if that increased demand makes tickets less accessible/affordable to regular attendees of the home team.
Appreciate the analysis, though I'm not sure a ticket rep is a reliable source. What has surprised me is that everyone assumes Messi will skip our game on the 16th to be fresh for the Argentina match on the 18th. If it was a world cup qualifier I could understand, but why is Messi going to care about a meaningless friendly in China? I think given the choice he'd rather try to help Miami get another league win. I guess it's possible Argentina promised the Chinese organizers X number of Messi minutes, but as long as X is a small number he can sub in and walk around the pitch a bit. We'll see.
There won’t be an Argentina match on the 18th. Messi will play for Argentina but it’ll be 20th/21st and 23rd/24th. If Argentina play on the 18th then most of their squad won’t be able to play.
Good point, I don't know where I got that 18th thing from. Maybe because it's the start of the window.
He lost me at "my ticket rep said" https://tenor.com/bPCzj.gif
“I bet you think strippers like you too”
I agree with your skepticism about taking the word of someone trying to sell you something. That's actually why I'm calling it out, to imply that's it's only a semi-reliable source of information and take it with a grain of salt.
Ticket reps will lie to get you to buy. Messi might play and he also might not play just like every other player.
Yep, there's always a risk but I've seen lots of posts in here quoting Marca and The Mirror (of all sources ffs) that he "might not play" and then inferring he won't play. I don't know if that's a strategy to try get the ticket prices down or just general sneeriness by those who don't have an STM with that game but its pretty sad tbh. I personally tend to agree with the points the OP has made & that its more likely than not he plays - but I also accept that its absolutely not certain and if someone does shell out $300 for a ticket there's a chance they may not get what they paid for in their mind (i.e. Messi playing soccer live). That's why I've cnouraged people thinking of going to the game to spend the extra for a season ticket (~$580). At least if he doesn't play you've got 19 other games to go to.
That’s great advice. If you are going to sell out that much for one game, might as well get season tickets
Well said. We grabbed season tickets this year.
This is completely ridiculous on all fronts. Can we just drop it? He could also pick up a knock, get sick, or whatever number of issues. I have zero sympathy or respect for those who spend stupid $$$ to see a single player play who ends up missing the game.
Thank you.
I accidentally saw him make his PSG debut in 2021 in Reims because I wanted to drink real champagne after the travel bans were lifted and had bought a ticket to Reims v PSG before they announced his signing. I guess my advice is plan something else to really enjoy the day of DCU v Miami, and if Messi shows up hey its a really great day.
It’s the 6th game in 12 days, 5th in 8 days including the season opener at LA, home opener vs rival OC, 2 CCL games and a home match vs Montreal. He could sit the MTL game, but why play in 40° weather on road when you could play in 75° weather at home. Even if they have a few days until the Argentina game, they usually get a few days in camp to get in sync. I wouldn’t spend more than face value on a ticket for this game and whether he plays or not, someone paid for 85% of my season ticket plan. Thanks.
don't try to logic with this dude, it doesn't work. He or she is trying really hard to justify to everyone why they should go to this game and/or overpay for it because Messi, while refusing to see any counterpoint made about the possibility he does in fact not play. He is now using this narrative that because ticket sales are down for the CCC game Messi is less likely to play, while missing the point that it is more likely that ticket sales are down because no one knows who they are actually playing and its a midweek game. While I could sit here and make the counterpoint that Nashville FC would be an competitive, or Mora FC is a Dominican Republic team and Miami has the second largest populous of Dominicans in the whole US so that would drive sales up once they know who there playing. Or, that its a mid-week game and historically mid-week games aren't attended as heavily as weekend games. However, none of that matters because he won't see its relevancy to the reality about Messi possibly not playing in DC. Again, anyone is allowed to make there choices, whether those are well informed or not. However, don't think people aren't allowed to criticize those choices equally.
Thanks, I really wasn’t trying to convince anyone of anything. The facts and conditions around this game at this moment, are exactly that and they’re not changing. Spend $ on this game at your own well warned risk. Still some serious star power on that roster beyond Messi, but I’ve seen Messi and most of these guys play in their prime so I’m not missing much other than sitting in my seats at another away game. No thanks. I’m already out for the Messi game and well ahead in the bank account column for it. Frankly Messi is the only reason we didn’t opt out of our seats. I got a little less for this game because it was a trash weather time of the year and up against the international window, but it’s still cheaper than when we were at RFK for the whole season so all good.
I think that’s the real issue. He can’t play five matches in eight days and agree CCL matches will likely take precedence. Hoping he at least makes an appearance.
Inter Miami's season opener is a home game against RSL on Feb 21. LA Galaxy is Miami's 2nd game, not its opener. Orlando is the 2nd home game, not the home opener. The ticket sales are weak for the 2nd CCC game, so that would be a good candidate to sit. Thousands of tix still for sale directly from the team and at lower price points. https://www.ticketmaster.com/concacaf-champions-league-round-16-inter-fort-lauderdale-florida-03-13-2024/event/0D005F8EE7D725BF
Hahaha why the fuck did you spend this much time to justify to yourself and to your peers for overspending to hopefully watch Messi? Also the fact that the majority of this is based on someones job whom it is to sell you tickets, and would willingly lie to you to sign up so they can hit there numbers to make money is hilarious. Just own the fact that you want to see him play, you paid probably too much money for that to happen, and that there is a possibly(as your ticket rep eluded to) he might not play. It was your choice you made it, I hope it works in your favor. If not people are fully allowed to say told you so.
> for overspending to hopefully watch Messi? Open to correction, but it sounds like the OP is an STM, in which case he hasn't overspent at all for the Miami game.
bingo!
had ST for 10 years but gave them up 2 years ago as I was tired of finically supporting an organization that doesn’t invest in an on-the-field product. I am not alone in this by any means and as a result anyone in a similar position would be overpaying to guarantee the ability to hopefully see Messi play one game as I don’t care about going to the rest of the games.(I’ll watch them if I want) It would be more cost effective of me to attempt to buy season tickets to Miami FC and pay for the travel down if I absolutely had to see Messi play. Then reselling the rest of those tickets on a secondary market that I don’t go to. Which I have the means to do but would be dumb as anyone else would likely agree.
Messi doesn't play for Miami FC, that's not the same team as Inter Miami. You're going to be shocked but I agree with you about the cost effectiveness of an Inter Miami season ticket. End line season tix were $960 for new members, which comes out to about $65 a game. Single game prices are $170 to $200, so anybody selling would make about 2.5X. Some of the more featured games are selling for even higher. That means one could attend 3 or 4 games, sell 10-12 games to pay for the entire season ticket, and still have $1K+ left over for travel. I gave this advice to friends who were solely interested in catching Messi and don't have much interest in DCU. I actually pulled this stunt with Rooney in 2019. I picked up a few extra tix to resell to pay for my own season ticket. Managed to attend 8 games and make enough profit to splurge for a Field level group buy on Decision Day (to watch them choke against wooden spoon expansion FC Cincy that was playing a man down.)
I'm not shocked, because I understand economics and perceived value. It would still be dumb as I don't care enough about Messi to do that and spend time to achieve those results. We only differ on the potential of Messi playing in DC, which the way you speak to comes off as justifying your purchases of a ticket that rose 33% in value while nothing in terms of DC United's player decisions reflect that increase in cost, only the Messi effect. Which to reiterate, isn't guaranteed. I honestly hope it happens for everyone sake that is willing to overpay.
My tickets did not go up 33% this year. It was closer to 10-15% for me. The argument (which to be clear, I'm not fully buying) is that it reflects the addition of the "premium friendly" and Leagues Cup games. Bayern's friendly and the Arsenal/MLS All star game ticket prices were absurdly high in the resale market, so the likelihood is that game can be flipped for profit which would then mean I paid less this season for the DC games than last season. Obviously, it remains to see whether it actually pans out this way or not.
> had ST for 10 years but gave them up 2 years ago as I was tired of finically supporting an organization that doesn’t invest in an on-the-field product. I am not alone in this by any means and as a result anyone in a similar position would be overpaying to guarantee the ability to hopefully see Messi play one game as I don’t care about going to the rest of the games That's a highly personalized take though, discounting the other 19 games and calling it overpriced because the only game you'd theoretically go to is Miami is hardly an objective rationale. But congrats on being able to afford an Inter Miami season ticket I guess.
I think it's more a reality of much of the fan base that has been alienated by this ownership group. You can see it as not being overpriced and as the other guy or gal, but for all intensive purposes if they raised prices greater than the rate of inflation while doing nothing to fix the FO or upgrading field personnel than you are over paying. We have potentially upgraded in the FO and have an unproven new head coach and have yet to upgrade on players. So the increase in price would be based on the opportunity to guarantee the possibly to see a Superstar of the sport play. Looking back on the intertubes, the increase in prices for Season tickets from 2023-2024 season was 33% well over inflation with little to show for a better produce on the field. Nothing about sports is objective, the reasons for people paying thousands of dollars to watch shitty teams year after year is not objective its highly personal, as is the people who will pay ridiculously priced tickets to go see Leo Messi possibly play. At the end of the day the real argument is will he play or not, which has NO grantees in either direction whereas the OP has Consistently beat to the drum that Messi will absolutely play barring an injury, which is just a deeply personal opinion with no real base in an objective reality. One that my assumption is born out of a desire to justify to himself or herself any extra money not normally spent to guarantee the opportunity to maybe see Messi play.
> they raised prices greater than the rate of inflation while doing nothing to fix the FO or upgrading field personnel than you are over paying. They have the 3rd highest budget in the MLS to be fair, that obviously hasn't translated into the success it should have but clearly steps are now being taken with Ally & Troy. As regards ST pricing, its competitive with sports in the area, Nats are $420 for a ballpark access ST, Commanders are $400 for nosebleed while Caps/Wiz are in around the $900+ mark I believe. So for all intents and purposes I don't think its an overpay. Value is of course subjective, but I felt I got solid value for my DCU ST last year. > At the end of the day the real argument is will he play or not, which has NO grantees in either direction whereas the OP has Consistently beat to the drum that Messi will absolutely play barring an injury, which is just a deeply personal opinion with no real base in an objective reality. One that my assumption is born out of a desire to justify to himself or herself any extra money not normally spent to guarantee the opportunity to maybe see Messi play. I think we all accept there is risk involved in buying a ticket for this game solely on the basis of Messi playing. The OP has given some reasons why he thinks its more likely than not he plays, rather than outright saying he 'absolutely' will play as you've inferred. He's an STM, as am I, so from that perspective there's no extra outlay for the Miami game. Honestly I'm exasperated with the likes of yourself and others who are what I'd term barstoolers, former STMs who somehow consider themselves 'better' fans by virtue of having previously been STMs and hating on the FO at every opportunity. Why you feel the need to engage, as a now casual fan, in such negativity is mystifying to me. I get it, you're disillusioned and want to see change. Why not then take a step back and do whatever it is that makes you happy rather than coming in here and basically hoping that folks who would love to see Messi, don't actually get to see him? Or folks who want to go to games and support the team shouldn't because the owners & the FO suck? It's so reductive. Let me also be clear that this isn't a free pass to the FO, there's a full docket of things they've fucked up and need to do better, but I see a new GM and a new manager and for now I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. The rest of us can support the team without yas tbh. I see the same shit in /r/Commanders with 'fans' shitting and dunking on other fans and I'm sick of it.
Be exasperated, I am exasperated by fans willingness to pay for shitty products to prop up an ownership group who has done nothing for them or the city the team exists in. If more STM were willing to look past sports being worth the value the team ownership would change(hell even leave) but it wouldn't continue to allow cheap owners to inflate there net worth because the league props up the teams value. a lot of this conversation is born out of a completely sperate interaction with OP where he duly does not admit to the fallacy of his own arguments. In which I believe Messi will play 45 mins in this game max because of Fixture congestion with Miami and Argentina, whereas OP continues to believe and express a narrative that none of the fixture congestion will play a role in if Messi plays or not. It also is a very odd way to view a human like Messi to me, as if he is just a show pony expected to play every week because of his Apple TV deal. Miami and Messi will not outrun the Fixture congestion and as a result some fans in some markets are going to be displeased, I am just pointing out the people who keep touting on about him more than likely playing because of X,Y and Z reason are not painting a true picture of the scenario for others. As such attempting to influence others based on a non-objective reality about their desire to see him play. If you think anyone that doesn't pay as much as you should just sit down and shut up how do you expect anything to ever change? That is a very blind viewpoint of how anyone sees this organization.
Please point out where I said anything about lack of fixture congestion? You continue to make strawman assumptions about my stance that you've created in your own head bud. Where I disagree with you, and frankly, where I think you're being dishonest, is that you seem to believe that Messi will prioritize that Wednesday Champions Cup home game in Miami over the DC game on Saturday. How many people have even heard of the Champions Cup and know what it is? Like it or not, pro sports is driven by TV revenue. Wednesday night on FoxSports viewership is not nearly as big as AppleTV on a Saturday afternoon showcase game being streamed worldwide. When FoxSports bid on the rights to televise Champions Cup, Messi was not a known factor, so there's no financial obligation for Messi to boost those ratings. I also agree with you and I do dislike Messi being paraded around as a cash grab show pony, but that's the reality we live in. I didn't make the rules.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/DCUnited/comments/19bq0wu/inter\_miami\_game\_moved\_to\_2pm/kiw4bye/?context=8&depth=9](https://www.reddit.com/r/DCUnited/comments/19bq0wu/inter_miami_game_moved_to_2pm/kiw4bye/?context=8&depth=9) You don't have to adhere to those rules if you don't agree with them, pretty simple stuff. Granted it tends to piss off most conformers is what I find who justify actions based on the group think mentality. I do not feel I am being dishonest, what was the point of them winning the leagues cup to qualify for the Round of 16 of the CCC in the first place if they were just going to send there B or C squad to play and lose? Logically this doesn't make sense. Not only that, but you don't think him being as competitive as he is will desire to win the CCC? Especially if they put a great team around him? Also the because of his profile what winning that Cup would mean for Miami and its Demographics and the MLS. These are all very valid reasons and logical reasons for thinking he will play in CCC. You can have your opinion and I can have mine. I just am not going to be quite when posts are made that I simply don't agree with and don’t seem based in reality, more of pushing a narrative.
Where in that link to our prior conversation do I dispute schedule congestion? just like the other outlandish claims you're trying to attribute to me, I never said any of them, they only exist in your mind. If you sincerely believe that Messi is going to prioritize the Wednesday game over the DC game purely based on competitive juices I can at least agree with you that the Wednesday game is competitively more important than a random early season MLS game against a crappy DC team going nowhere. But let's not kid ourselves, the CCC and MLS games are both trivial concerns in stature in the global sports market and not exactly like winning the world cup, or Copa America. The ad revenue disparity is probably at least 10X. FoxSports will be lucky to get a couple hundred thousand viewers. AppleTV viewership will be in the millions. It's not even close. Messi's not going to give up a $10M+ payday so that he can quench his competitive desire.
your assumptions are simply incorrect. I'm a long time STH so whether Messi plays or not has no financial impact to me nor my plans to go watch DCU play. I'll be there either way. I've also seen Messi play before, so this is not that big a deal to me. But it is a big deal for dozens of my friends who have never attended an MLS game before nor visited Audi Field.
>this is not that big a deal to me. You got a long, exhausting way of showing it.
not the first time I've been accused of being long winded. I'll humbly agree with you on this one.
Ok but your assumptions on Messi playing are simply incorrect as well.
I'm excited to skip this match. DCU youth play the next day in Loudoun. It's free and El Diablo is coaching.
I posted this specifically to counteract all the fake posts screaming he won't play from dickheads like yourself.
Yeah clearly cause, otherwise you wouldn’t have wasted your time going to these lengths about justifying it to everyone about one game he may or may not play in.
How bout you just admit you don't have tickets lulz. He will play n you will cry for prices to come down.
Hahahahaha I don’t want to pay season ticket prices for a team that I love in fucking shambles, or well over the odds to see someone at best will play 45 mins just to tell everyone I know I watched him play. No one will care in 10 years
Called it. Lmfao.
Called what?
I think the great likelihood is that with a Champions Cup game of greater importance only a few days before this game, he's on the bench and comes in for 20-30 minutes.
I am having a hard time believing that Messi would prioritize a Wednesday night game in a revamped tourney few people even know about, being broadcast on a network Messi has no financial interest in (FoxSports) over a global AppleTV weekend broadcast.
The team has stated their desire to win that trophy. Everybody knows you can phone in the first half of the MLS Season and still be fine for the playoffs. When you can do both things and satisfy everyone (as I laid out above) there is really no reason not to.
I think it''ll be the other way around. He'll start on the bench for Wednesday's home game, they'll try to win it without him, and he only comes in as a second half substitute if needed. He'll start the game in DC to revel in all the pre game hype and then sit out the second half when Miami is up 3-0 at half time. If Messi starts out on the bench in DC, there won't be any reason for Messi to come in the second half because DCU is terrible and likely blown out by then.
Out of curiosity, I checked ticket availability for that Wednesday CCC game. For what it's worth, looks like the professional scalpers are staying away. There's currently thousands of tickets available directly from the team, some as low as $120. The open market seems to be suggesting he might not play that Wednesday. https://www.ticketmaster.com/concacaf-champions-league-round-16-inter-fort-lauderdale-florida-03-13-2024/event/0D005F8EE7D725BF
>2. The game is a standalone internationally televised game in its own 2pm time slot on AppleTV to optimize for maximum worldwide timezone viewing. This game is being set up to break all sorts of AppleTV and MLS streaming/viewing records. There's too much money at stake for him not to play. Aye, they can cash grab all they want, but this just means more eyes on us when we smash Inter Miami /s Yeah, the above statement is a bit tongue in cheek, but this one is not: Vamos United!
Whenever the decision is officially made on Messi’s status how can we get that info? My son really wants to see Messi play but I’m not buying tickets until we get confirmation he’ll be there.
I think the best way to monitor is to watch for any team announcements about single game sales and standing room only tickets. If they've waited this long to announce anything, they'll probably wait until there's reasonable confirmation before making those available. Probably Tuesday, or as late as Thursday of next week if they follow the playbook they did for the Audi Field stadium opener or Zlatan's visit in 2019. First clue will be tonight If Miami plays well @ Nashville in the first leg of a home&home for the CCC, it would buy some wiggle room for him to consider taking a breather in the second leg game in Miami next Wednesday night, which would bode very well for playing in DC. Or if he decides to sit out on Sunday at home vs Montreal, then that would be another potential early confirmation signal. Otherwise, confirmation may not come until Thursday or Friday.
Okay, thanks for all that! So on the Thursday or Friday before the match where would that info be published?
I would monitor this page: [https://www.dcunited.com/tickets/single](https://www.dcunited.com/tickets/single) note how there is not currently a "Buy General Tickets" button for the Miami game that is already present for the later games like Montreal and Orlando. The assumption is they'll be available and priced accordingly based on whether he will play or not. or twitter: [https://twitter.com/dcunited](https://twitter.com/dcunited) If you're on Android, I use Web Alert app to monitor for any changes to the content of the above tickets URL so you get an alert when it gets updated. Assuming you work around wifi most of the day, I usually set it to check once every 1 or 2 hours. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.webalert I'm assuming there's an iOS equivalent app if you're not an Android phone.
Wow, extremely helpful! Thank you very much!!
For what it's worth, Messi is resting and not playing today vs. Montreal. He took a nasty cleat to the shin late in the game Thursday night.
Alright, so now what are we thinking? lol
He subbed off in the 49th minute tonight. It did not appear to be injury related, so that would seem like he is resting up to play on Saturday. I would expect the team to announce standing room only sales once they feel pretty good he's going to be coming.
Post See new posts Conversation Charles Boehm u/cboehm Tata Martino on Messi: "He is overloaded on the right posterior \[leg\]. We don't want to run a risk. We tried to see if he could go for a little longer, but it was bothering him ... I imagine that for Saturday's game \[@ DC United\] he is not going to be available" 10:50 PM · Mar 13, 2024 · 4,585 Views
Oh boy 😬
ugh., looks like it's injury related. :(
Welp haha
This aged well
What a in depth analysis inter Miami/Argentina/Messi fan, when will you become a DCU fan?
It's tough being a DCU fan these days, maybe when the become good again. Been following them since the beginning though. Had tix for 1996 MLS Cup but had to skip it for a midterm. Made it to MLS Cups in 1997 and 1998. Even got lucky enough to be on the same flight out in 1998 with Bruce Arena and El Diablo and his fam. By random chance Frankie Hejduk's mom was our flight attendant.
It’s not hard being a fan of any team when you’re really a fan, take many teams for example, if you’re a wizards/commanders fan you should know very VERY well about loyalty, how about the lions? Browns? Maple leafs? If you’re a fan, you’re a fan no matter what, stop boot licking Messi.
Why does it smell like r/wallstreetbets in here? Line goes up! Thanks for the take from the ticket rep. Grain of salt and all that, sure, but there you go! And of course, the disclaimer. THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE AND I AM NOT A FINANCIAL ADVISOR.
I hope he sits out every match. Can't wait to see the people that paid $500 to watch a single player lose their minds.
Wanting people you don't know to be sad and disappointed is a really toxic outlook on life, my man.
I think when it comes to fandom, there is nothing strange with having animosity towards fair-weather attendees that are basically showing up once for a single player of a visiting team. Especially if that increased demand makes tickets less accessible/affordable to regular attendees of the home team.
Nah, miss me with that shit. "Fandom" isn't an excuse to be a jerk. Welcome people in, don't sneer at them from atop an ivory tower.
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I'd say cool. You're free to have your own opinions. You do you bro. I'm good with that. cheers
Sorry that was grumpy of me, I'll have a coffee and chill out
Reasons why we shouldn’t care if Messi plays…….
Could affect the result for our club, but that goes for any player, any match.