The Vancouver Whitecaps made a notable announcement regarding Lionel Messi's absence just prior to their match against Inter Miami, aiming to manage fan expectations. This proactive communication sparked significant reactions from fans and media. The Whitecaps planned celebrations despite Messi not playing and even offered discounts on stadium food as compensation. Similarly, the Chicago Fire had previously implemented a compensation model to address fan concerns over Messi's participation, illustrating the influence he has on attendance and game day protocols in MLS as teams adapt to 'Messi mania'.
Despite Messi's absence, the Whitecaps vowed to follow through with their scheduled pregame celebrations that included a block party, tailgates and several activations outside of the stadium.
Messi's power to disrupt teams' typical gameday protocol was seen again when the Chicago Fire last season offered an unprecedented compensation package to fans in case Messi failed to feature.
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