Michael Jordan, considered to be one of the best players in the history of the NBA, resulted in a meteoric rise in the Bulls’ franchise value after he joined them. When he arrived, the Bulls were worth $16 million, a figure that had jumped to around $307 million after his departure. Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami is expected to have similar results for not just the franchise but for the entire MLS.
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According to Joe Pompliano, Messi’s arrival has already resulted in Inter Miami bagging around $45 million in jersey sales. Considering subsequent revenue from other sources like tickets, sponsorships, tv subscriptions, or concessions, Messi’s move to the MLS can be expected to result in huge financial increases for the MLS, and Inter Miami.
Lionel Messi results in an increase in revenue for Inter Miami, much like Michael Jordan did for Chicago Bulls
Within days of Lionel Messi making his move to the USA, it seems as if the MLS has received a huge spike in interest. Inter Miami Jerseys have seen an incredible spike in sales. As per Joe Pompliano, the jerseys are all sold out.
This includes both adult and youth jerseys, that seem to be selling like hotcakes as of now. Pompliano, as per his estimates, also expects the team has sold upwards of 2 million jerseys have now been sold this year, with the estimated revenue from them being around $300 million.
This is the front page of the Adidas website right now.
It links through to a bunch of Inter Miami products (non-Messi branded shirts) and the youth jerseys are already sold out.
Here's the quick math (estimates):
• 2 million jersey sales this year
• $150 average price
————-… pic.twitter.com/QiUiRDkx6I— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) June 10, 2023
Moreover, around 15% of that money goes straight to the franchise, which means that they have already recouped around $45 million since making the signing official. This is obviously in addition to the other ways in which Messi has resulted in a spike in revenue, including tickets, sponsorships, Tv subscriptions, and other concessions.
Lionel Messi expected to increase interest in the entire MLS
There is little doubt that the MLS has seen multiple big-money players making their way to the league in the past as well. However, none of them are as valuable as Lionel Messi.
The 2022 World Cup Winner has already resulted in a huge spike in interest, as evidenced by the increased jersey sales. There are a range of other ways in which Lionel Messi is bound to raise Inter Miami’s overall value.
What he does on the pitch aside, Messi’s presence means a much larger viewership base across the world. The MLS, despite its star players and facilities, is still not among the top professional football leagues in the world. While the past decade has ensured that this is changing, Lionel Messi’s presence will only accelerate the overall process.
