Rapids vs Messi draws record crowd as Denver delivers blockbuster sports weekend
Apr 20, 2026, 8:44 AM
Denver turned into the center of the sports world this weekend and fans showed up in a big way.
With the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets opening their playoff runs, the Colorado Rockies hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rapids celebrating their 30th anniversary, it was a packed weekend across the Mile High City. But the biggest moment came Saturday at Empower Field at Mile High.
The Rapids hosted Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF in a Major League Soccer match that drew a record-breaking crowd of 75,824. That marks the second-largest attendance in MLS history, trailing only a 2023 match in Los Angeles that drew more than 85,000. And Messi delivered.
The World Cup champion put on a show for Denver fans, scoring two goals and leading Inter Miami to a 3-2 win over Colorado in a match that lived up to the hype.
It’s another historic milestone for Empower Field, which has quickly become a go-to venue for record-setting crowds. Earlier this year, the stadium hosted the inaugural home match for Denver Summit FC, drawing more than 63,000 fans — the largest crowd in National Women’s Soccer League history.
From playoff basketball and hockey to record-breaking soccer crowds, Denver proved once again it’s one of the best sports cities in the country.
