Whitecaps offering free tickets to fans attending Saturday's Messi-less match
CTV
In the wake of major disappointment among soccer fans who were hoping to see Lionel Messi play at BC Place on Saturday, the Vancouver Whitecaps are offering what seems to be a consolation prize.
In the wake of major disappointment among soccer fans who were hoping to see Lionel Messi play at BC Place on Saturday, the Vancouver Whitecaps are offering what seems to be a consolation prize.
In an email sent to ticketholders, the football club says anyone attending the game against Inter Miami CF will receive a free ticket to a future regular season match.
The Whitecaps previously announced food and drinks at the stadium would be 50 per cent off on Saturday.
The freebies come after Inter Miami announced it would be heading to Vancouver without the Argentine superstar, nor teammates Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets.
The Whitecaps were expecting the largest crowd since the team joined MLS, with more than 50,000 fans expected to be in attendance, largely to see Messi.
Miami is currently the top team in the Major League Soccer standings with a 9-2-4 record. Head coach Gerardo (Tata) Martino said Friday that the decision to keep Messi, Suárez and Busquets at home was based on the club's upcoming schedule, which includes three games between Saturday and the following Saturday.
“We thought it was the most prudent for them not to play this match. They have been training but they will not be available for the game," Martino said through an interpreter.
