Rainstorm, lightning delay don’t dampen mood at Lionel Messi welcome event Sunday night
Torrential rain, furious winds and a lightning storm rolled over DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale early Sunday evening, minutes before the scheduled start of Lionel Messi’s sold-out highly anticipated “Unveil” ceremony.
The Argentine superstar got his first taste of summer weather in South Florida, and the festivities, which included a concert by Camilo and other Latin American artists, were delayed two hours due the inclement weather.
“Tonight is a gift and celebration to the city that opened its arms to my family and so many others seeking freedom,” said Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas, who did his remarks in English and Spanish and drew a huge laugh when he said: “We are doing this Miami style, in the rain. This is holy water. Es agua bendita.”
The fans, many decked in black and pink Inter Miami shirts and No. 10 Argentine national team jerseys, began chanting “Messi! Messi! Messi” from the moment the ceremony began.
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham was the first to speak, and he sprinkled some Spanish into his welcome speech. “Ten years ago, when I started this journey, I dreamed of bringing the greatest players in the world to Miami,” he began. “Today, that dream came true. Leo, we are so proud that you have chosen our club for this next stage of your career, and we are delighted to welcome your beautiful family. Forgive me for feeling a bit emotional.”
He then said to Messi and his wife and three sons: “Bienvenido a la familia.”
Here’s what it looked like at Inter Miami’s introduction of Lionel Messi
Beckham also introduced former FC Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets, who finalized his contract Sunday afternoon and will be reunited with Messi at Inter Miami. Busquets, one of the greatest defensive midfielders in history, will wear No. 5 and is expected to make his debut along with Messi on July 21 against Mexican team Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup opening match.
“The next chapter of our story starts here, gracias,” Beckham said.
Mas reminded the audience that the words “Freedom to Dream” are embroidered in the back collar of the team jerseys.
“This is a city that was built on dreams, hard work, sacrifice. That will always be this team’s mantra,” he said. “Today, a new journey and new chapter starts.
“There will always be a before and after Lionel Messi. We are recipients of the legacy of the greatest player in the world that started with Newell’s Old Boys, went to Barcelona and ended at PSG. But today, it sits in the hands of Inter Miami and its fans. This is our moment. Our moment to change the football landscape in this country. We had made promises to this community, and tonight I can say we fulfilled those promises.”
Beckham, Jorge and Jose Mas then presented Messi with the No. 10 jersey.
The Argentine thanked South Florida for the warm welcome. He said he is very happy and feels the love.
“I already feel at home so quickly, and the transition has been so easy from the moment we arrived,” Messi said. “I am eager to start training and competing. I always want to win and want to help the club grow, and I have no doubt me and my teammates will do everything we can to reach our objectives. I am happy to have selected this city to come to, and to have picked this project. We are going to share many beautiful moments together.”
Messi then watched the big screen as a collection of celebrities welcomed him. Among the well-wishers were Tom Brady, Steph Curry, Maluma, Manu Ginobli, Marc Anthony, DJ Khaled, Alejandro Sanz, Ricardo Montaner, and Gloria and Emilio Estefan.
The crowd was soggy, but in the mood to party after waiting out the weather delay.
Fan gates were scheduled to open at 6 p.m., when bad weather showed up, wreaking havoc with thousands of fans who were waiting in line to go through security. As of 7 p.m. the stadium was still under an official weather delay. Fans were instructed to seek shelter.
According to at least two Twitter accounts, Magic City Soccer and IMCF Traveller, a large group of fans crashed the gates and burst into the stadium past security in the midst of the storm without having their tickets scanned.
“Security lost control, very poor situation,” wrote IMCF Traveller.
“Security abandon their post as the worst of the weather came in,” wrote Magic City Soccer. “Supporters breached the gates and passed security with no one on hand. This may be a problem. #Messi.”
According to an Inter Miami spokesperson, security guards opened gates to let drenched fans in to seek shelter as a safety precaution.
Inter Miami had beefed up security in anticipation of Messi’s arrival, including adding barricades blocking some entrances, but there were long lines at all entry points.
Hundreds of cars waited in snaking traffic jams to get into the parking lots off Commercial Boulevard to the south and Cypress Creek Road to the north of the stadium. The rain had lightened to a drizzle by 7:15 p.m. and the ceremony got underway at 8:30 p.m.
