(Photo: https://www.mlssoccer.com/)
An MLS-era record crowd of 53,837 fans filled BC Place on April 24, 2025, witnessing Vancouver Whitecaps FC defeat Inter Miami CF 2-0 in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals.
Back in May 2024, a sold-out crowd was left disappointed when it was announced just two days before the game that Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Sergio Busquets would not be playing against the Whitecaps.
This time, ahead of the clash between the Whitecaps and Inter Miami, and with the possibility of seeing Messi play at BC Place, the excitement was even higher.
Pre-sale tickets were made available to Whitecaps season members 24 hours prior to the general sale. The pre-sale queue had over 13,000 people waiting, and all tickets sold out shortly after they were released to the general public.
Shortly after the sellout, tickets for the game were being resold for over $100 to more than $1,000. The cheapest available tickets in the first few days were around $224 per seat, securing you a spot in section 406, located in BC Place’s upper bowl, in the corner of the pitch — a big jump compared to premium seating for a usual MLS game right next to the field.
Over the week leading up to the matchup, the resale market saw huge shifts with supply and demand, causing prices to fluctuate.
On April 19, it was reported that after the game against Columbus Crew, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi immediately headed down the tunnel, walking with a slight limp. That led to a drastic drop in the resale market, with many tickets returning close to face value.
Unsurprisingly, once news broke that Messi had boarded a plane to Vancouver, the resale market rebounded. Prices got another major boost when he was spotted training at UBC the day before the match, reaching close to $300 per seat, and up to $2,300 for premium spots.
Meanwhile, the Whitecaps have been flying to start the 2025 season, currently sitting first overall in the MLS standings after nine matches, with a record of 6 wins, 1 loss, and 2 draws.
It’s not surprising to see growing attendance for upcoming matches — and someday soon, our true Whitecaps supporters might feel the same bittersweet pain as fans of the big clubs in the English Premier League.
At the end of the day, whether it’s for the love of a superstar or for the love of the badge, nights like this remind us why we show up — for the moments, the memories, and the magic that only soccer can deliver.