Travel Troubles for World Cup Fans at MetLife Stadium
Fans attending the World Cup match at MetLife Stadium faced significant travel challenges on Tuesday.
Many spectators driving to the 3 p.m. game featuring France against Senegal were frustrated after paying around $225 for parking and then having to trek nearly 30 minutes to reach the stadium. Others opted for yellow cabs in Manhattan, often sharing rides with strangers to make the journey.
Those using New Jersey Transit trains were unhappy as well, with round-trip tickets costing a hefty $98, which many felt was unfair.
Sayo Ajagbe, a 23-year-old French supporter, expressed his concerns at Penn Station before catching the train, commenting, “It’s like an exorbitant amount of money to pay just to get on the train.” He added that if it weren’t for potential traffic issues, he might have chosen to take an Uber instead.
Thirty-one-year-old Akshay Anil shared his own frustrations as he had already spent $800 on tickets but felt the transport costs were “absolutely exorbitant.” He mentioned, “I’m okay with it being a little expensive, but $98 is too steep. It’s eight times the regular price.”
The new transportation fees were introduced by New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill for the series of eight games scheduled at the stadium in June and July, which sparked concern among fans.
While many fans utilized buses from the Port Authority in Manhattan— a more affordable option than the $10 one-way train fare—space was limited to just 12,000 passengers.
Those who drove to the American Dream Mall nearby seemed happier than train travelers, although the parking fee and long walk amounted to nearly 30 minutes. Anthony DeLuca, 58, recounted, “I paid almost $300 for parking and ended up hiking about 1.5 miles. I understand safety is a concern, but overall everyone was very orderly.”
Elodie Martin, a French tourist, noted her family was somewhat confused by the detours and barriers but didn’t mind the walk. “Every time you think you’ve arrived, it’s your next turn. But once you see the crowd and different jerseys, you forget about it. Still, for a major event like the World Cup, I expected it to be simpler.”
Many fans relied on taxis, leading to some unusual arrangements with drivers and fellow fans to cut costs. One taxi driver quoted $120 for four passengers to the stadium and mentioned charging a flat rate of $100 regardless of the number of people.
Travel to the event was tough, but many anticipated that getting home would be even harder.
After thousands of fans opted against trains for the first leg of the World Cup at MetLife on Saturday, many found themselves stranded for hours waiting for ride-sharing services.
Before Tuesday’s match, Governor Cathy Hochul stated that efforts were being made to improve transportation from New York, promoting the newly available bus services as a viable alternative to expensive rail travel. “I hope it will be easier to get there,” she remarked. “Again, the returns are different. We’re focused on improving the experience for everyone.”
