Houston Dynamo Offers Free Tickets After Messi Absence

For the 20,810 fans who attended Houston Dynamo's match against Inter Miami on March 2, the absence of Lionel Messi was a disappointment. To compensate, the Dynamo announced that all attendees would receive a complimentary ticket for a future game. Matches featuring Messi have been among the most in-demand in MLS since he joined Inter Miami in 2023, leading to high ticket prices and team-driven incentives when he is absent.

Sunday’s game marked the first time Messi missed a competitive match in 2025 after playing in both Concacaf Champions Cup fixtures and Inter Miami’s season opener. Similar instances have occurred before; in 2023, the Chicago Fire issued ticket credits, and last year, the Vancouver Whitecaps offered a 50% discount on stadium food when Messi didn’t play.

Despite his absence, Messi’s impact on ticket sales remains significant. Prices for Inter Miami’s future games in New York reflect this, with tickets for the September match at Yankee Stadium starting at $132 and the July match at Sports Illustrated Stadium against the Red Bulls beginning at $221. Inter Miami and MLS continue to navigate the challenges of meeting fan expectations when their star player is unavailable.