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And fans weren't about to miss out on a chance to see international superstar Lionel Messi, who was in town for one of the most anticipated matches in Major League Soccer history (scroll for video).
Crowds flocked to the W Hotel on Marine View Plaza between 2nd and 3rd in Hoboken on Friday, Aug. 25, the night before Messi made his Inter Miami debut against the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena in Harrison.
"Messi! Messi!" the Hoboken chanted as the bus pulled up sometime around 10 p.m.
Sagar Satpute, a soccer fan and resident of the Mile Square City, recorded the clip. Unfortunately, Messi never emerged.
The World Cup champion didn't disappoint in the match, scoring a goal with his team already up 1-0. They had to wait for the 60th minute, though, for the Argentine superstar to enter the game.
His score in the 89th minute made the final result 2-0.
It was the first regular season goal for Messi, who has 11 in nine games for Miami in all competitions.
Tickets for Red Bulls game ordinarily average under $50. Saturday night's game cost fans an average of nearly $500, according to VividSeats.
All 26,276 seats sold out quickly -- the Bulls' first full house this season.
Hours before the match began, the streets around Red Bull Arena were flooded with fans, street vendors (most of them illegally peddling Messi shirts) and others. Roughly half the attendees in the arena wore Messie jerseys from Argentina, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Miami.
Thousands more watched on enormous screens in Times Square.
Miami had not won a league match since beating New England on May 13. It was only the team's second road win this season (they beat Columbus on April 29).
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