The Wild Story of Inter Miami

With news of Messi set to join Inter Miami this summer, it's fun to revisit how the franchise came to be.

It all starts with another soccer legend...

David Beckham.

Here's the wild story ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/6rVZ2B8C3P

— Alex Garcia 🔍 (@alexgarcia_atx) June 7, 2023

Let's rewind to 2007.

Beckham is at his peak, playing for Europe's top club, Real Madrid, and making upwards of $20m per year.

Yet, suddenly, he moves from the pinnacle of global soccer to the MLS.

Huh?

— Alex Garcia 🔍 (@alexgarcia_atx) June 7, 2023

Besides taking a big pay cut (down to $6m per year) the American soccer league was struggling to get eyeballs.

They were desperate for a big name.

With Beckham, they found their guy.

And the deal he negotiated might go down as one of the best of all time. pic.twitter.com/yTGwzdm35V

— Alex Garcia 🔍 (@alexgarcia_atx) June 7, 2023

Beckham was thinking long-term.

If he could boost the league's profile...

Then why not tie that upside into his contract?

He integrated two INSANE clauses into the deal:

— Alex Garcia 🔍 (@alexgarcia_atx) June 7, 2023

#1 - He gets a % of the club's revenue... from everything.

This included:

• Concessions
• Tickets
• Merchandise

Completely unprecedented for a modern athlete in a major sports league.

But #2 is even crazier.

— Alex Garcia 🔍 (@alexgarcia_atx) June 7, 2023

Once he retired, a condition allowed him to purchase a club for $25 million.

In 2007 - that was a good deal for an MLS team.

Now?

Teams fetch a price north of $400m.

— Alex Garcia 🔍 (@alexgarcia_atx) June 7, 2023

Already a legend in both soccer and business, Beckham might be on the verge of his biggest win yet.

If Lionel Messi comes to the USA to play for the MLS...

Inter Miami has a chance to become the first billion-dollar US soccer franchise.

— Alex Garcia 🔍 (@alexgarcia_atx) June 7, 2023

The story of Inter Miami & David Beckham represents the insane marketing potential of an athlete's personal brand.

2 years after coming stateside, attendance was up 25% for the entire league.

Fast forward a decade, and MLS stadiums consistently look like this: pic.twitter.com/0YEm9LI5UD

— Alex Garcia 🔍 (@alexgarcia_atx) June 7, 2023

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— Alex Garcia 🔍 (@alexgarcia_atx) June 7, 2023