Sporting Kansas City have moved their April 13 MLS clash with Inter Miami to Arrowhead Stadium from Children’s Mercy Park.
The move comes in an effort to bring more fans to see Kansas City clash with the Herons and, of course, Lionel Messi. While Children’s Mercy Park is not a bad ground at all, it doesn’t exactly compare to Arrowhead Stadium given their huge differences in capacity.
Children’s Mercy can hold 18,467 spectators, while Arrowhead boasts 76,416 seats as the fourth-largest NFL stadium.
SKC are able to play host in this venue as the primary tenants — the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs — will be in the offseason come April, long after the NFL season concludes in early February.
“This match has generated an unprecedented amount of interest since Major League Soccer released our schedule less than three weeks ago. We believe this will be the biggest event in Kansas City this spring and we are proud to partner with Arrowhead Events to provide an incredible experience for our fans and our team,” SKC president and CEO Jake Reid said in a release.
“The opportunity to host this match, which is set to be Lionel Messi’s first MLS match in the Midwest, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium is especially exciting as our region prepares to host Copa America matches this summer and FIFA World Cup matches in 2026.”
Barring any injuries, Messi should be available for the clash in the Midwest. He’ll more than likely be expected to suit up for Argentina in late March during the international break, which doesn’t coincide with the game against Kansas City.
For those fearing a potential last-minute U-turn by the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner due to the playing surface, fear not. Arrowhead Stadium, which was built in 1972, hosts its athletic events on natural grass, so Messi and Co. should feel comfortable about their chances of steering clear from potential knee/ankle problems.
Fans who want to see Peter Vermes’ side take on Miami and Messi can purchase tickets for the game starting on January 16 for just $65 on Ticketmaster.
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