Son Heung-min’s LAFC home debut tickets hit $3,800 — 10 times the original price

Los Angeles FC forward Son Heung-min, left, and Chicago Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady battle for control of the ball during the second half of a match at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, Aug. 9. Reuters-Yonhap

The so-called “Son Heung-min syndrome” shows no sign of slowing down. Ticket prices for the Korean football star’s home debut with Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer (MLS) have surged more than tenfold, driven by explosive demand from U.S. soccer fans.

As of the afternoon of Aug. 15 (KST), U.S. ticket marketplace SeatGeek showed that premium seats for the Sept. 1 match between LAFC and San Diego FC at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles were listed at around $3,800 (5.3 million won). The original price for those seats was between $300 and $500, meaning prices have jumped nearly 10-fold. The seats are located close to the pitch.

Prices have climbed even higher compared to just three days ago. British outlet TalkSPORT, citing an Aug. 12 report by the Hankook Ilbo, noted that tickets for Son’s home debut had jumped from $300 to $1,500. At the time, SeatGeek was selling those seats for about $1,500 — now they are more than double that price. The steep increase reflects the U.S. sports market’s dynamic pricing system, meaning prices could climb further. When Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami, tickets for his MLS debut also skyrocketed.

Even the cheapest ticket for Son’s home debut is now $187 (260,000 won), far higher than other matches. For comparison, the lowest-priced ticket for the Aug. 31 match between Vancouver Whitecaps, featuring Thomas Müller, and Orlando City is just $2 (2,800 won). The gap underscores the immense interest and expectations surrounding Son.

Son wrapped up a decade-long career at Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League before joining LAFC. Just three days after his official introduction on Aug. 7, he made his debut in an away game against Chicago Fire, coming on as a substitute in the 61st minute and winning a penalty, living up to fans’ expectations.

Son is set to feature again Aug. 17 in an away match against the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.