Governor Critiques FIFA’s Travel Cost Deal for World Cup
New Jersey’s Governor Mikie Sherrill has expressed strong disapproval of the World Cup hosting arrangement that exempts FIFA from covering travel expenses to games at MetLife Stadium. She has made it clear that she won’t tolerate the anticipated fare increases.
New Jersey Transit (NJT) is planning to hike the fare for fans traveling from New York Penn Station to MetLife Stadium to an astonishing $100 for the eight FIFA World Cup games at the venue.
The typical ticket price is around $12.90, creating a staggering 775% increase on all tickets.
According to an NJT spokesperson, the rumored fare hike “has not been finalized,” but local residents, including Sherrill, are already expressing frustration.
Sherrill, who assumed office earlier this year, was incensed to discover that the previous administration had agreed to terms that left FIFA contributing nothing towards transportation for the World Cup.
She estimates that NJT, responsible for transporting over 40,000 fans to and from the stadium, would face a “$48 million liability” from this situation.
Meanwhile, FIFA executives are projected to earn around $11 billion from the tournament, so even if they were to cover travel expenses, it would only amount to 0.4% of their total income.
“I’m not going to make New Jersey commuters cover this cost for years. It’s just not right. So, here’s the deal: FIFA should take care of the transportation. If they don’t, I won’t let New Jersey residents pay,” Sherrill stated.
New York State Senator Chuck Schumer also voiced his dissatisfaction with FIFA, emphasizing that the public deserves transparency regarding this bill.
“FIFA should at least ensure that New Yorkers can get to the stadium without being squeezed financially. I urge FIFA to fund the transportation for host city and state. Residents and commuters in New York shouldn’t have to bear a burden while FIFA rakes in $11 billion,” Schumer commented.
Governor Kathy Hochul of New York pointed out that the MTA wouldn’t raise fares. However, it’s worth noting that no MTA trains or buses connect to East Rutherford Stadium.
Additionally, parking passes at the stadium are being sold for $225 each. The American Dream entertainment complex has announced they’ll collaborate with FIFA to offer a limited number of public parking spots at MetLife Park.
Even if the fare issue was resolved, New Jersey-bound commuters would face restrictions entering or exiting the NJ Transit section of Penn Station during specific hours on game day, with six of those hours occurring during rush hour.
Fans in other host cities are also not faring much better. Those going to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, are required to pay $95 for a bus ticket operated by Yankee Line.
However, it seems unlikely that FIFA will alter its stance, as it has never funded local transportation for World Cup matches previously.
Back in early March, the Trump administration took steps to allocate $103 million toward enhancing public transportation in host cities ahead of the Cup.
This funding is meant to support planning, capital, and operational expenses for matches and related events. However, it remains unclear how much of that money has been allocated to New Jersey and its distribution.
The World Cup has been hosted in the United States only once, back in 1994. At that time, games were held in various locations, including Washington, D.C., Boston, Orlando, and East Rutherford, among others.
During this previous event, the weather was exceptionally hot, making it difficult for both fans and players. The heat inside the Pontiac Silverdome was so intense that attendees dubbed it the “sauna dome.”
