The Chicago Fire announced Friday that they will provide compensation to fans if Lionel Messi is unable to play due to injury when Inter Miami CF visits Soldier Field on Aug. 31.
The Argentine forward suffered a ligament injury in his right ankle during the Copa America final against Colombia on July 14 at Hard Rock Stadium, forcing him to be sidelined for an as-yet-undetermined amount of time.
In the event Messi is unable to play against Chicago, the team said it will offer single-game purchasers who purchase between now and Aug. 31 $250 off two or more new 2025 Chicago Fire season ticket memberships or $100 off two or more single-game tickets to the 2025 home game against Inter Miami.
For existing ticket holders, the Fire will offer the opportunity to claim two complimentary tickets to the 2024 Fire Fan Appreciation Night for the Oct. 19 match against Nashville SC.
“While the Club looks forward to filling Soldier Field with fans to cheer on the home team Chicago Fire, it recognizes that a player of the caliber of Inter Miami star forward Lionel Messi always helps draw a larger crowd and new fans to the beautiful game,” the club said in a statement revealing what it called a “Fan-First Credit Guarantee.”
“Despite the injury Messi suffered during Sunday's Copa America final, the Fire are confident he will be back on the field for next month's match. To ensure a full stadium and create an unforgettable experience for all in attendance, the Fire are offering the Fan-First Credit Guarantee.”
The initiative, the club said, serves as part of the Fire's “ongoing commitment to constantly meet the evolving needs of supporters and fans, ensuring the best possible matchday experience.”
Off the field, the Chicago Fire are planning several activities for fans attending the match against Inter Miami, including entertainment activities and a 60-minute post-match performance by singer Jason Derulo.
Tickets for the August 31 match against Inter Miami are available starting at $89.
Messi did not travel to Chicago the last time the two clubs met at Soldier Field on Oct. 4, 2023, after suffering a right leg injury that kept him sidelined for several weeks. Sixty-two thousand fans watched as the Fire triumphed 4-1 over a Miami team that played without Jordi Alba and Messi.
At the time, the Fire offered fans an incentive of a $250 account credit toward new memberships for the 2024 season — or a $50 credit for anyone unable to use the new member credit — to all single-game ticket purchasers, regardless of whether Messi was able to appear.
Earlier this season, there was widespread criticism from Vancouver Whitecaps fans when Miami opted to rest the star trio of Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets for a match in Canada. The hosts offered a 50% discount on food and drinks at the stadium to the crowd, a record for the club, in an attempt to combat fan frustration.
