Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire said Friday (19) it will compensate fans who buy tickets for its August game against Inter Miami if Lionel Messi is unavailable.
The Argentine star is out for an indefinite period due to the ligament injury in his right ankle suffered last Sunday in the Copa América final.
Still, the Chicago Fire said Friday they expect Messi to be back for the Aug. 31 clash between the two teams.
The team led by Swiss Xherdan Shaqiri are confident that Inter’s visit will see all 62,000 seats at Soldier Field filled again and, to reassure fans, have announced a series of “guarantee” compensations in the event of Messi’s absence.
If this happens, all fans who purchase tickets to that game from now on will receive $250 off two or more new Chicago Fire season tickets.
Fans who have already purchased tickets to the game, including season ticket holders, will be able to claim two free tickets to the Oct. 19 home game against Nashville.
The duel against Inter Miami will be accompanied by a special show featuring singer Jason Derulo.
Messi, the MLS’s biggest star since arriving a year ago, was already sidelined for last October’s clash between Inter and Fire in Chicago, when the local team won 4-1.
Inter Miami’s away games continue to generate huge anticipation in the United States and Canada, which has on occasion led to frustration when Messi has been unable to play.
Last May, the ‘albiceleste’ captain was spared from the trip to Vancouver, which caused huge discomfort among Whitecaps fans, who sold out the 55,000 tickets.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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