April 20 – FIFA has said that the NJ Transit prices will have ‘a chilling effect’ on supporters using public transport during the World Cup.
Last week, NJ Transit said that the train commute from New York to the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will cost $100 and New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill said FIFA should subsidise the public transport.
In response FIFA – whose own inflated match ticket prices for the tournament have been criticised worldwide – have simply doubled down.
FIFA offical and tournament CEO Heimo Schirgi said: “The NJ Transit current pricing model will have a chilling effect.”
He said that FIFA’s aim was “to minimise congestion, reduce reliance on private vehicles, and ensure the fan experience is positive and memorable defined by the action on pitch, not delays on the roads”.
“Elevated fares inevitably push fans towards alternative transportation options. This increases concerns of congestion, late arrivals, and creates broader ripple effects that ultimately diminish the economic benefit and lasting legacy the entire region stands to gain from hosting the World Cup.”
One of the tournament’s marquee venues, MetLifeStadium in New Jersey, will host eight matches during the tournament, including the World Cup final on July 19. It’s not the only venue where supporters will struggle to find affordable transportation. Train fares for matches at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, outside Boston, will cost $80. FIFA pointed to other host cities who have kept public transport affordable.
Sherrill outlined that NJ Transit has a bill of $48 million and that FIFA is not providing any budget for transportation.
“To arbitrarily set elevated prices and demand FIFA absorb these costs is unprecedented,” said Schirgi. “No other global event, concert or major sporting promoter has faced such a demand.
“While FIFA is projected to generate approximately $11bn in revenue, not profit, as the governor incorrectly claims, FIFA has always been a not-for-profit organisation as per our statutes. Revenues from the FIFA World Cup are reinvested into developing the game of football, particularly for youth and women, worldwide.”
Schirgi failed to point out that FIFA tends to enjoy tax-free status when it stages World Cups and in general puts multiple demands on host nations and cities.
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