Transportation costs for fans traveling to US stadiums for the FIFA World Cup could be more than 10 times higher than regular fares, according to local officials. Fans trying to get to MetLife Stadium from New York City for matches this summer will have to pay $150 (€127) for a round-trip ticket, nearly 12 times the usual $12.90 fare for the 15-minute journey from Penn Station in Manhattan to the stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri confirmed the pricing, stating, "We are going to charge $150 for our roundtrip ticket on our system."
NJ Transit officials reportedly plan to spend $62 million on transportation for fans to and from the stadium during the tournament, but only $14 million of these anticipated expenses have been covered by outside grants. Kolluri defended the fare increase as necessary to recoup costs, insisting, "This isn't price gouging. We're literally trying to recoup our costs." Driving to the stadium may be even more expensive, with parking prices starting at $225 per space, according to the Just Park site.
New Jersey's recently sworn-in governor, Mikie Sherrill, criticized FIFA on social media, alleging that "FIFA put zero dollars towards transporting World Cup fans." She called on the international football's governing body to cover the costs, warning that otherwise, the state would not subsidize World Cup ticket holders at the expense of New Jersey residents who rely on NJ Transit daily. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also reportedly urged FIFA to foot the bill for transport costs to World Cup venues.
In response, FIFA's World Cup chief operating officer Heimo Schirgi claimed that the move to "arbitrarily set elevated prices and demand FIFA absorb these costs is unprecedented." FIFA pointed out that other US host cities, such as Los Angeles, Dallas, and Houston, are maintaining their transit rates, while Boston is a notable exception with express buses priced at $95. MetLife Stadium is set to host eight World Cup matches, including the final on July 19, featuring teams like Brazil, France, Germany, and England.
Fan organizations have expressed outrage over the pricing. A French "Irresistibles Francais" spokesperson called the train ticket pricing "completely insane," while England's Football Supporters' Association chief Thomas Concannon told the BBC, "Every single thing coming out of this tournament so far is just fans getting fleeced." Earlier, fan groups had already voiced anger over exorbitant World Cup match ticket prices, highlighting broader concerns about affordability and fairness in the event's organization.
Source: www.dw.com