Travel to the World Cup has just gotten pricier. New Jersey Transit, along with the FIFA New York-New Jersey Host Committee, announced fare hikes for eight matches at MetLife Stadium, which will occur from June 13 to the final on July 19. A round-trip train ticket from New York Penn Station to the stadium will now set fans back $150, a jump from the usual $12.90. Shuttle services are available too, costing $80.
New Jersey Transit CEO Chris Corulli defended this fare increase, asserting that local commuters shouldn’t have to carry the costs of fans attending the games. He emphasized that while it’s an exciting opportunity for New Jersey to showcase its diversity and economic strengths, the financial burden should not rest on those who live and work in the area.
“To handle 40,000 attendees with a $6 million price tag per game, it’s necessary to charge $150,” he pointed out. He also mentioned that if the regular fare was implemented, commuters would end up subsidizing a significant part of the $48 million bill associated with hosting the tournament.
No one he spoke to thinks that sounds fair. The idea is that the fans at the games should cover the costs, not local commuters. Following the fare increase announcement, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill reiterated that FIFA should bear the transportation expenses.
In a social media post, Sherrill expressed excitement about hosting the matches but criticized FIFA’s lack of contribution towards fan transport, asserting that New Jersey taxpayers shouldn’t have to shoulder these costs.
FIFA responded negatively, stating that the fare increases could adversely affect attendance and the overall flow of the event. Heimo Silgi, World Cup Chief Operating Officer, pointed out that FIFA has not contributed financially to the transportation for the World Cup, which he finds unacceptable. He also highlighted that New Jersey Transit is expected to incur costs that FIFA stands to gain from while they claim to generate significant revenue.
Parking at MetLife Stadium will be prohibited, and ride-sharing options will be severely restricted, leading to longer commutes for those relying on NJ Transit. Moreover, spectators won’t have access to New York’s Penn Station for four hours prior to the games, with recommendations for fans to limit non-essential travel on game days.
