Fans were thrilled to see officials from the Seminole Tribe and Hard Rock International at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on October 2 for the launch of a new kids’ menu at Hard Rock Cafes that is based on Lionel Messi. Messi is a soccer star all over the world, and he plays for the Inter Miami CF team. Since 2021, he has been a Hard Rock brand spokesman.

“We’re very proud to be in this relationship with him because of who he is and what he stands for,” Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International and CEO of Seminole Gaming, said at the event. “Not just the fame, though. What we’re really excited about is the person, their honesty, and their long-term commitment.”

The head of the Seminole Tribe, Marcellus W. Osceola Jr., remembered going to see the Fort Lauderdale Strikers play as a child in what was then called Lockhart Stadium in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

CEO Osceola said, “This stadium has come a long way and has a lot of history, and it’s making more with this gentleman that we’re going to introduce here in a minute.” It’s great that we know him and can talk to him. He is doing wonderful things for kids, and we are grateful to be a part of them. The tribe is getting a lot out of this relationship.

Hard Rock managers said that Messi, who is a father of three, helped make the menu. There are 10 things on it: the Messi’s X Burger, the Messi Golden Chicken Sandwich, the bacon cheeseburger, the chicken tenders, the mac & cheese, the twisted n’ tasty cavatappi pasta, the hot dog, the grilled chicken breast, and the grilled chicken house salad.

Dozens of kids and their families were there to help bring out the food. There were also some tribe kids at the event. Fifteen of them went to Fort Lauderdale with the Big Cypress Recreation Department. The kids could also work on their soccer skills with teachers from Inter Miami while Messi watched.

At the event, the newly named Hard Rock Terrace at DRV PNK Stadium was also shown off. The people who work at Hard Rock said that the company just started working with the Inter Miami CF group.

A group called the Seminole Tribe owns Hard Rock International. Hard Rock runs 290 places in more than 70 countries. These include hotels, casinos, shops, cafes, live performance spaces, and venues that Hard Rock owns, licenses, or manages. Hardrock.com has more.