<p>When Inter Miami and Lionel Messi visit Gillette Stadium this weekend, New England Revolution expects record-breaking attendance. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/messis-inter-miami-to-smash-attendance-record-in-new-england/">More than 60,000 people</a> are anticipated to attend the game in Foxborough. However, it is quite unlikely that anybody will know until at least an hour before kickoff if the Argentine will be starting.</p>



<p>On Saturday, Inter Miami will face off against the Revolution in a stadium that uses artificial turf, not real grass. One of the top controversies regarding <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/messis-time-is-running-out-to-help-mls-season-pass/">Messi</a> and his availability with Inter Miami focused on turf. His performances have drawn massive audiences for Inter Miami, and New England will hope he is part of Inter Miami’s squad for attendance purposes.</p>



<p>Just two weeks ago, almost 72,000 people flocked to see him in Kansas City. Messi scored in that game as part of his seven goals and six assists in six games played in Major League Soccer this season.</p>



<h2>What does Messi think of playing on turf?</h2>



<p>But even with the trip to New England to play the Revolution, there’s no assurance that any of Miami’s top soccer players will be on the field. Playing on grass is sure to spark a heated argument. Out of a total of 29 clubs in Major League Soccer, six—including the Revolution—play on synthetic grass.</p>



<p>Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and David Beckham were among the famous players who shied away from playing at Gillette Stadium in the past. Although Henry and Beckham started games there despite their opposition to the surface.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240424_WST_503232_Messi-artificial-turf-1200x670_f56ad16d.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-503274" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Messi-artificial-turf-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Messi-artificial-turf-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Messi-artificial-turf-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Messi-artificial-turf.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>To what extent Messi will defy the trend is the current mystery. Fans in New England who have been waiting for a sight of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner have reason to be optimistic, as per <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/lionel-messi-inter-miami-new-england-revolution-gillette-stadium-record-crowd-will-messi-play-tom-brady-mls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CBS News</a>. Messi put to rest the rumor that he would flat-out refuse to play on grass at his first news conference in Miami in 2023.</p>



<p>“The truth is my youth was spent on artificial turf, my whole life was on that pitch. Truth is it’s been a while since I’ve played on artificial turf, but I have no problem adapting myself again”, he <a href="https://theathletic.com/4786428/2023/08/18/messi-mls-artificial-turf/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told reporters</a>.</p>



<p>It wasn’t until last October’s regular-season finale versus Charlotte FC that he had the chance to play all 90 minutes on the artificial surface. In 2023, he missed another turf game in Atlanta. To be fair, that might have been due in part to schedule conflicts and injuries.</p>



<h2>Luis Suarez is also uncertain</h2>



<p>Concerning the present schedule, there was one factor that prevented him from playing on Saturday. That was a cramped schedule with league play and continental competition. However, Miami and the New England Revolution crashed out in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. If Miami had advanced to the semifinals, Messi would have had to play two games in a short time.</p>



<p>Thus, it seems more likely that Messi would play at Gillette Stadium. Based on Miami’s elimination there is no longer an issue with a busy schedule. Still, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/inter-miami-cannot-win-when-lionel-messi-does-not-play/">Luis Suarez</a> may be the biggest worry for supporters in attendance. Knee discomfort for the 37-year-old is a consequence of significant wear and tear over decades of playing. The Uruguayan’s situation is far more uncertain than Messi’s. </p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>

Will Messi and Suarez play on artificial turf at New England?

The artificial turf at Gillette Stadium, the home of the New England Revolution, may cause Lionel Messi to miss another game for Inter Miami

<p>Inter Miami is, once again, going to help a club break its attendance record, and this time, it is the New England Revolution. </p>



<p>Major League Soccer sides have been ready to host Lionel Messi and Inter Miami with record crowds on standby. Last season, both Charlotte FC and Atlanta United yielded their biggest crowds of the season with home games against Inter Miami. Now, the New England Revolution figures to do the same when Inter Miami travels north on Saturday, April 27.</p>



<p>Like Charlotte and Atlanta, New England plays in a stadium traditionally reserved for the NFL. The New England Patriots have no issue selling out Gillette Stadium, but the Revolution do not. In 2023, New England averaged 23,940 fans per game. That is a solid record, but it is the second lowest among the teams that use an NFL stadium for their home games. Now, ticket sales project over 60,000 fans for Inter Miami’s game at Gillette Stadium.</p>



<p>Single-game tickets for the contest that the Revolution is selling are just about sold out. Single-game tickets are almost sold out (starting at $225), but tickets are available through the secondary market via resellers such as Vivid Seats (where tickets start at $157). Vivid Seats buyers have a 100% buyer’s guarantee, and World Soccer Talk readers can get $20 off their first order by using the promotional code <strong><a href="https://vivid-seats.pxf.io/c/330866/952533/12730?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vividseats.com%2Fnew-england-revolution-tickets-gillette-stadium-4-27-2024--sports-mls%2Fproduction%2F4741515" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">SOCCER20</a>.</strong> You can <a href="https://vivid-seats.pxf.io/c/330866/952533/12730?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vividseats.com%2Fnew-england-revolution-tickets-gillette-stadium-4-27-2024--sports-mls%2Fproduction%2F4741515" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">buy tickets on Vivid Seats</a> any time before the game, but prices may fluctuate as game day nears. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240422_WST_502726_Messi-New-England-Revolution-1200x670_b39b45e8.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-502729" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Messi-New-England-Revolution-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Messi-New-England-Revolution-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Messi-New-England-Revolution-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Messi-New-England-Revolution.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Inter Miami to break New England attendance record on Saturday</h2>



<p>In total, New England has sold over 60,000 tickets to the game. More of those will go as Saturday nears, meaning that the previous attendance record for fans at Gillette Stadium soccer games will fall. Currently, the record attendance for a soccer game at the stadium is 67,584. Those fans showed out to watch Brazil against Mexico in a 2007 friendly. For the New England Revolution, the attendance record is 61,316. The Revs set that mark way back in 2002 when the Los Angeles Galaxy defeated New England in the MLS Cup Final.</p>



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<p>Based on projections, the Revolution’s record of 61,316 will certainly be surpassed by Messi and Inter Miami. </p>



<p>Just a few weeks ago, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/messi-to-smash-records-with-70000-expected-in-kansas-city/">Sporting Kansas City moved its home game</a> against Inter Miami to Arrowhead Stadium. The traditional home of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs saw <a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2024/0413/lionel-messi-inter-miami-sporting-kc-mls-attendance-record" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">72,610 fans</a> come out to watch the Major League Soccer contest. That almost quadruples the capacity of Sporting KC’s home of Children’s Mercy Park. Looking back to last season, Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami led to games in Charlotte, Atlanta, and Chicago surpassing 60,000 fans. </p>



<p>It will be no different in Foxborough, MA, on Saturday. However, those who are unable to attend can view the massive crowd on <a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=wst_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l35s4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">MLS Season Pass</a> from Apple. The streaming home for the game will have full coverage of Inter Miami against the New England Revolution ahead of their 7:30 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, April 27. </p>



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<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em>.</p>

Messi's Inter Miami to smash attendance record in New England

Inter Miami is, once again, going to help a club break its attendance record, and this time, it is the New England Revolution.

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Will Messi and Suarez play on artificial turf at New England?

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Messi's Inter Miami to smash attendance record in New England