CLEVELAND — Huntington Bank Field may have missed out on a global superstar when Taylor Swift didn’t attend the Browns-Chiefs game last week, but this spring the venue will host another star as the Columbus Crew takes on Inter Miami CF: Lionel Messi.

The Crew will host Inter Miami, Messi’s club, on April 19, 2025, at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland.

This will be the first-ever Major League Soccer regular season match played in Northeast Ohio, an already anticipated event heightened by the prospect of seeing Messi take the field.

The Crew-Inter Miami game being played in Cleveland is an idea that has been in the works for some time. It almost happened last year, but the stars didn’t align.

Haslam Sports Group, which owns the Crew and Cleveland Browns, which call Huntington Bank Field home, wanted to expand its reach to football fans outside of Columbus while allowing more fans to attend a game that is sure to be in high demand. .

Lower.com Field, home of the Crew in Columbus, seats 20,371 spectators. Huntington Bank Field can house 67,431. With the crowd Messi’s power would draw, Haslam Sports Group came up with a plan.

“We wanted to make sure we could accommodate as many people as possible and Cleveland Browns Stadium will accommodate three times as many people as Lower.com Field. And we are committed to growing the game in the state of Ohio ” Josh Glessing, head of strategy and development for Haslam Sports Group, said in June. “And then, just based on economic considerations, by having more seats, we can also lower the entry point into the stadium so we can interact with more fans, give more people the opportunity to watch the Columbus Crew face Lionel Messi and Inter Miami and also make the entry price lower.”

Last season, Huntington Bank Field nearly hosted one of the world’s most esteemed athletes: soccer superstar Lionel Messi.

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Last year’s plans are renewed and next season, the Crew will welcome Messi and Inter Miami to Cleveland.

While there is excitement about growing the game in Cleveland, already loyal Crew fans will have options to enjoy the benefits of the game. Season ticket holders will have access to:

• One free parking pass per subscription account
• A food and drink voucher for a hot dog, chips and a drink (beer or soda) for each season ticket seat
• Tickets for a post-match on-field experience

Tickets for the match are scheduled to go on sale on January 14, 2025 at 10 a.m. The pre-sale will take place on January 13 at 3 p.m. for fans who register. To find out more, Click here.