New Jersey Transit Fare Increased to $150 for World Cup Fans

US World Cup Hosts Impose High Fares on Fans

Transport officials have confirmed that fans attending World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford will face a nearly 12-time hike in train fares from Manhattan’s Penn Station. The new fare of $150 for a round-trip ticket is expected to be used by approximately 40,000 fans per match.

The stadium, which hosts eight World Cup matches, including the tournament final on July 19, has seen its regular train fare increased from $12.90 to $150. On-site parking will not be available for most fans, who are instead encouraged to use mass transit.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill attributed the upcharge to ensuring that her state’s commuters would not be left with a “tab for years to come” after hosting the World Cup on its return to the US in 1994. NJ Transit officials stated that the cost of transporting fans to and from the stadium over the tournament duration is estimated at $62m, with only $14m covered by outside grants.

In contrast, other World Cup host cities have pledged to maintain their transit fares unchanged. For example, Kansas City is offering shuttle services from various locations around the city for a flat rate of $15 per round-trip ticket. Houston has also announced that it will keep its fares at current levels, with options ranging from $1.25 for buses and light rail trains to $4.50 for park-and-ride services.

FIFA, the governing body of international soccer, has expressed surprise at New Jersey’s approach to fan transportation, citing agreements signed in 2018 that called for free transport for fans to all matches.

Source: Al Jazeera