What is Royal Caribbean, Inter Miami’s new jersey sponsor?

With the 2024 MLS season right around the corner, Inter Miami have unveiled their new shirt sponsor for the campaign. Royal Caribbean will replace XBTO as the new name splashed across the front of the pink and black kits, with Messi and his teammates set to parade up and down the USA as they look to win more trophies.

Lionel Messi himself was present and smiling at the official presentation of the new sponsor, saying “it is a great pride for me for everything this ship means to the city of Miami and to the whole world”.

What is Royal Caribbean?

Royal Caribbean are a cruise company that offers trips around the world, from the, erm, Caribbean to Europe and all the way to the Arctic Circle. The fantastically over the top description on the official website states that Royal Caribbean Group is proud of our entrepreneurial spirit, the force that drives us to innovate. It’s that state of mind that helps us see opportunity where others see only risk. It reminds us that “good enough” is not remotely good enough. Instead, we greet every new idea with the words “What if?” instead of “It won’t work.”

Sensational.

The cruise liner company recently announced a partnership with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which I mistakenly thought would be an interstellar-style weekend getaway package. While it may just be Starlink internet service on the boats, there’s still scope to dream.

What is XBTO, Inter Miami’s old sponsor?

Before Royal Caribbean, Inter Miami had the logo of XBTO on their kit, a company that, according to their website, “offers a comprehensive platform for digital assets and tailored investment solutions catered to sophisticated non-US investors and institutions”.

Didn’t understand that? No problem, here’s another explanation from their website: “XBTO was founded in 2015 as a pioneer in providing institutional market making to major global trading platforms. Since then, XBTO has expanded its reach to include a diverse set of offerings across multiple Business lines from institutional trading, credit, asset management, venture capital to mining solutions.”

OK, I’ll put it simply: they’re a Cryptocurrency finance management company.

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When will Inter Miami wear their new shirt sponsor?

The new logo will be on show when Inter Miami Travel to Saudi Arabia, a famously dry country in which half of all water consumed comes from desalination plants due to there being no natural fresh water source in the entire country. Science Direct puts it this way: More than 90% of Saudi Arabia is covered in desert, and there are no lakes or rivers in the country... Nearly 2.25 million square km of the Kingdom (KSA) are arid, so is a water-scarce nation with limited freshwater resources as have no perennial rivers or other ongoing bodies of water. Saudi Arab is among the driest contents in the globe due to its minimal rainfall with maximum evaporation rates.

AS USA did the research so you don’t have to: Jeddah is not a selectable option for a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Follow all of Inter Miami’s pre-season games live on AS USA.