Lionel Messi Sets New MLS Away Attendance Record in Denver

Lionel Messi has further solidified his status as North America’s premier commercial draw, helping set a new Major League Soccer (MLS) away attendance record during Inter Miami’s 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.

In a move to celebrate the franchise’s 30th anniversary and accommodate unprecedented ticket demand, the Rapids relocated the fixture from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to Empower Field at Mile High, the 76,000-seat home of the NFL’s Denver Broncos.

The match attracted a staggering 75,824 spectators, officially becoming the largest home crowd in Colorado Rapids history.

The figure eclipsed the previous away attendance record set just two months ago in February, when 75,673 fans gathered at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to watch the high-profile showdown between Inter Miami’s Messi and LAFC’s Son Heung-min.

On the pitch, Messi delivered on the immense hype, netting a brace to lead the “Herons” to a critical three points. The event now sits as the second-highest single-game attendance in the history of MLS, trailing only the “El Tráfico” derby between the LA Galaxy and LAFC held at the Rose Bowl in July 2023.

Strategic Stadium Relocations Drive Revenue

The record in Denver is the latest evidence of a league-wide strategy to maximise the “Messi Effect” by shifting fixtures to high-capacity NFL and MLB venues.

• D.C. United: Relocated their match to M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore), drawing 72,026 fans.
• LAFC: Utilised the L.A. Memorial Coliseum to host 75,673 supporters.
• New York City FC: Shifted their fixture to Yankee Stadium, attracting a capacity crowd of 45,845.

The 75,824-strong crowd in Colorado also came within striking distance of the all-time attendance record for Empower Field at Mile High across any sport, a benchmark of 77,160 set during a 2007 NFL contest between the Broncos and the Green Bay Packers.

All-Time MLS Attendance Leaders

The Colorado vs. Inter Miami fixture has reshaped the league’s historical leaderboard:

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