September 15: Inter Miami have once again looked to Spain for a major signing, appointing former Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid executive Íñigo Aznar as the first chief revenue officer for both the club and the new Nu Stadium.
Aznar handles partnerships, ticketing, consumer products, concessions and marketing, and his work goes far beyond the day. A key part of the job is growing Heron Sports & Entertainment, the platform that brings non-MLS events, concerts and conferences to Nu Stadium and other club venues. He considers five to eight concerts a year to be realistic, with room to grow through residencies.
“The whole off-day business is where we clearly have the biggest gap or the biggest opportunity to grow,” Aznar said, noting that the stadium only hosted one concert in 2026.
The biggest challenge, however, is preparing the business beyond Lionel Messi, who has retired from international football and whose contract with the club runs until 2028, with no guarantee the 39-year-old will make it. Inter Miami’s commercial revenue already dwarfs its MLS peers, with partners such as Royal Caribbean and Lowe’s locked in on roughly five-year terms. Finding an AI category partner is a stated priority.
The appointment continues the club’s habit of hiring former League members. Aznar depends on his compatriot Xavier Asensi, ex-Barcelona, and joins a leadership group full of Spanish links.