Messi Revenue Opportunities Only Just Beginning Throughout MLS
Irwin Kishner, co-chair of Herrick's Sports Law Group, was interviewed by Front Office Sports on Lionel Messi's move to Inter Miami and the consequent expanding revenue opportunities for Major League Soccer.
The article notes that Messi's move to Inter Miami is "already making a major impact on Major League Soccer." The move has caused skyrocketing growth in secondary markets and "speculation is mounting that Inter Miami could even play some home matches at the Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium to accommodate more fans than its 19,000-capacity DRV Pink Stadium. "
“If the existing equity owners want to create liquidity, now would seem to be a decent time to do it,” said Kishner.
The article also highlights that league partners like Apple will also reap the benefits of the move.
“Everybody was sort of scratching their heads,” Kishner said of the initial reaction to Apple’s $2.5 billion deal to broadcast MLS games. “What does Apple see?”
With the most popular soccer player in the world now a part of the league, “[i]t makes Apple look really smart,” said Kishner.
Read the full article in Front Office Sports here. Access my require a subscription.