Sandy • Inter Miami’s first trip to Utah on Wednesday was a big deal, but was it a good deal for local fans?
Even with all of the hype and extra seating added to the north concourse, the Miami game did not set a new record for attendance at America First Field.
In fact, Wednesday’s game now sits in fourth place all-time at 21,512 people, behind games against the LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo in 2024 and the record-holder against LAFC in 2022 at 21,810.
The average ticket price on the secondary market approached $500, and it was not uncommon to see prices in the thousands ahead of Lionel Messi’s long-awaited Utah debut.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) More than 21,500 fans watched Lionel Messi play his first game in Utah.
For those hoping to simply see the World Cup champion and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner play “the beautiful game” in person, the 38-year-old Argentine gave them what they wanted: playing a full 90 minutes for the second road game in a row.
If you wanted to see Messi score a goal, however, Wednesday was not that time, with the Miami captain held scoreless for just the third time in MLS play this season.
Argentina fans still got a goal from one of their own when Rodrigo De Paul opened the scoring in the 82nd minute, and soccer fans at large were treated to what Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos dubbed a “golazo” from Uruguayan legend Luis Suarez to seal a 2-0 win over RSL in the 84th minute.
“It was a beautiful night of football,” Hoyos said. “I congratulate both teams for the football that was played.”
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Fans react as Lionel Messi takes the field against Real Salt Lake.
The team that was shut out may feel differently, however, as do its hometown fans, who hoped to stick it to the star-studded super team from Miami, which required a bevy of unique protocols for both security and media purposes throughout the night.
RSL scored multiple goals in each match of the six-game unbeaten streak it carried into Wednesday’s blockbuster, but was held scoreless for the first time since the season opener and lost at home for the first time all year, ending a club-best 4-0 start at America First Field.
Fan reactions
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) The game was stopped when a fan ran onto the field and embraced soccer superstar Lionel Messi.
“If we had to lose, I wish Messi would’ve scored,” was a common sentiment among RSL fans after the match, including comments from @TrevanMurdock and @jazzmomm on X.
It wasn’t for a lack of chances, with the so-called “god of soccer” — as one Messi fan told X user @CarsonLantz when home fans started to boo the Miami star — putting up four shots on target and nearly a full expected goal (0.85 xG) on the night.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Ammon Wilkerson, 12, holds up a sign for Inter Miami CF midfielder Lionel Messi (10) before the game.
“Giving the youth a chance to see a legend in real life is a memory they will hold onto forever,” @DrewWil8 said on X.
X user @ryaneror is an RSL season ticket holder and said he never considered selling his tickets, instead bringing a friend who is “now a lifelong fan of our local club” after attending the Miami match.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Inter Miami CF midfielder Lionel Messi (10) played all 90 minutes but did not score.
Several fans in attendance said it was very worth it for season ticket holders, but they would not have paid the $400-plus to get in for the one-off game.
“It was so worth it,” @ryaneror said. ”Such an unreal feeling from pre-game on: the buzz, the vibe — everything lived up to it but RSL not scoring.”
RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni said he thought the “nerves and attention” a team like Miami brings with it played a role in his team’s lack of sharpness and execution in the final third.
“It’s a great learning opportunity,” Mastroeni said. “If you want to be great, that’s what you’re up against.”
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Lionel Messi and Inter Miami won the game 2-0.
Mastroeni added that, while sharing the field with Messi may have hindered his players, for the fans in attendance, “Being in the presence of a player like Messi will turn a layman fan into a true soccer fan.”
RSL has a chance to bounce back quickly with a road trip to California on Sunday to take on the LA Galaxy, who have won just two games so far this season, including one at home.