Real Salt Lake’s home tilt with Messi, Inter Miami hottest ticket in club history
Apr 22, 2026, 1:13 PM | Updated: 1:13 pm
SANDY — The top men’s soccer player in the world has touched down in Utah.
But if you want to see Lionel Messi and Inter Miami face off against a red-hot Real Salt Lake on Wednesday night, it’ll cost you.
Ticket prices have soared to record highs four days to see the Argentine wonder on Utah soil (7:30 p.m. MT, Apple TV), with an average of price of $468 at the 20,213-seat soccer-specific stadium at America First Field, according to TickPick. That includes a get-in price of starting at $511 for concourse standing tickets, according to SeatGeek, the preferred secondary-market ticket provider for Real Salt Lake.
Prices on the service range as high as $5,500, with rates ranging from $502 to $2,000 on Stub Hub.
For comparison, Real Salt Lake’s following home game May 2 against the Portland Timbers has an average price of $28 — or 1,3296% less, as first reported by the Miami Herald.
That makes Wednesday’s match the most expensive home match in Real Salt Lake history, surpassing the $148 ticket for RSL’s friendly against Manchester United ($148) in 2017 and a Leagues Cup match against Club America ($80) last year.
Still, fans are paying for it. In addition to the roughly 14,000 season-ticket holders, RSL officials are expecting a capacity crowd of more than 21,000 to see Messi, Luis Suarez and the rest of the defending MLS Cup champion Herrons in the first mid-week match of the 2026 MLS season.
Where ever he goes, Messi draws a crowd.
The eight-time FIFA Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup champion producing a record-setting showing on the weekend, scoring two goals in a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rapids in front of 75,824 fans at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. That’s the second-largest crowd in MLS history, behind only the 82,110 fans who saw LA Galaxy face LAFC at the Rose Bowl in 2023.
Sandy police adjust traffic for Messi arrival
The Sandy Police Department said this weekend it would shift traffic patterns in the area around America First Field for as many as four hours prior to kickoff as well as after the match, per a department release.
The far-right southbound lane on State Street between 9126 South and 9320 South will be closed beginning at 3:30 p.m. MT, while the left turn lane from northbound State Street to Rimando Way will also be closed at the same time.
After the match, Monroe Boulevard will be closed from Town Ridge Parkway to 9400 South, and westbound traffic on State Street will shut around 9400 South.
Arrive early, team says
Real Salt Lake representatives are urging fans to arrive early Wednesday, with parking lots opening as early as 3:30 p.m. MT — with tailgating included — and the east-side plaza opening at 5:30 p.m. for fan events.
Gates will open at 6 p.m. MT ahead of 6:45 p.m. pregame warmups, with the supporters’ traditional “march to the match” beginning at 6:30 p.m. from the tailgate lot off 90th South, according to supporters.
The club says a three distinct drone shows — one before the match, another at halftime, and a separate one after the final whistle — will hover over the stadium, as well. Airman from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings at Hill Air Force Base will also performa pre-match flyover above the stadium.
Prepping y’all for tomorrow night
In English: https://t.co/gcyYvTr6DO
En Español: https://t.co/oP4ytllyHj pic.twitter.com/flKtBKNeQF— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) April 21, 2026
Follow Real Salt Lake with KSL Sports
Apple TV subscribers will no longer need to purchase the add-on MLS Season Pass. All Major League Soccer matches will be available on the standard Apple TV subscription at no additional cost.
All Real Salt Lake English-language radio coverage for the 2026 season and beyond will air live on KSL radio, including KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM) and KSL Newsradio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM).
You can find KSL Sports coverage of Real Salt Lake here.
