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World Cup public transportation explained: High prices in store for fans in some U.S. host cities
TL;DR
With less than 50 days until the World Cup, fans are facing high transportation costs in U.S. host cities, including train tickets around $100. The rising prices and inconveniences are causing frustration among fans preparing for the tournament.
Key points
- World Cup transportation costs are rising in U.S. host cities.
- Train tickets to stadiums may cost around $100 per person.
- Parking and rideshare options are expected to be expensive.
- Public transportation in the U.S. is less accommodating than in Europe.
- Organizing committees are facing disputes as the event approaches.
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Announcements about the World Cup are supposed to result in bursts of excitement, but with less than 50 days to go until the opening match, fans are instead wringing their hands about the rising costs and growing inconveniences of this summer's tournament.
A complex and expensive process to purchase tickets to the first 48-team World Cup was merely the starting point for what has already become a fraught experience for fans, both based in North America and those thinking about making the trip. In a handful of U.S. host cities, though, ticket prices are not the only thing making it a pricey journey – train tickets to stadiums will go for around $100 per person and even higher in some places, while parking prices and rideshare costs are unlikely to serve as notably cheaper options.
Public transportation was always expected to be a point of contention in the U.S., which is less friendly to foot traffic than places like Europe when it comes to large stadiums, but has become the latest in a string of controversies marring the World Cup experience for many and leaves different branches of the tournament's organizing committees feuding with each other as the event approaches.
Here's a look at the state of things with 50 days to go.
High prices in New York and Boston
The priciest trip to the stadiums will come in the suburbs of New York and Boston, where ticket prices for regular public transportation options have skyrocketed. Boston will have a train from South Station to Gillette Stadium, much as it does on gamedays for the NFL's New England Patriots, but a round-trip ticket will cost $80, more than quadruple the usual cost. A ticket for a bus with more than 20 pickup points, meanwhile, will cost $95.
Fans attempting to make the journey to MetLife Stadium in New York's suburbs, though, will have to shell out more. While round-trip bus fare from three pickup locations will cost $80, the journey to and from New York's Penn Station on the NJ Transit will cost $150 rather than the usual $13 ahead of events at the home of the New York Giants and Jets. Additionally, service to and from Penn Station will be shut down for four hours pre-match to anyone but World Cup ticketholders, who will have to show their tickets, a plan that has led New Jersey officials to encourage residents to work from home on those days.
The prices have been the source of a back-and-forth between New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill and FIFA, who have placed responsibility on the other to bring costs down.
Q&A
What are the transportation costs for the World Cup in U.S. host cities?
Train tickets to stadiums are expected to cost around $100 per person, with parking and rideshare options likely being even more expensive.
Why are fans frustrated about the World Cup transportation?
Fans are frustrated due to rising costs and inconveniences associated with public transportation, which is less accommodating in the U.S. compared to other countries.
How does public transportation in the U.S. compare to Europe for the World Cup?
Public transportation in the U.S. is less friendly to foot traffic and large crowds compared to European cities, leading to increased costs and logistical challenges for fans.
What controversies are arising as the World Cup approaches?
Controversies include rising transportation costs and disputes among organizing committees, which are affecting the overall fan experience leading up to the tournament.