NJ Transit Hastily Defends $150 Tickets for 9-Mile World Cup Journey: ‘This Isn’t Price Gouging’

(SeaPRwire) –   Beyond the steep ticket prices for World Cup matches at some U.S. venues this spring, soccer fans may also face significant travel expenses.

Transportation authorities confirmed on Friday that fans traveling from New York City to MetLife Stadium can anticipate a $150 round-trip train fare for each game.

This price is nearly 12 times the usual $12.90 fare for the approximately 15-minute, 9-mile (14-kilometer) journey from Manhattan’s Penn Station to the stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Since most fans will not have access to on-site parking, New Jersey officials expect approximately 40,000 fans to utilize public transportation for each match.

The stadium, home to the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets, is scheduled to host eight World Cup games, including the final on July 19. Group stage matches featuring prominent soccer nations like Brazil, France, Germany, and England, among others, will commence on June 13.

New Jersey officials stated that the increased fare is necessary to cover the expenses associated with hosting the World Cup, which is returning to the U.S. for the first time since 1994.

NJ Transit officials indicated that they plan to spend $62 million on fan transportation to and from the stadium throughout the tournament. With external grants covering only $14 million of these projected costs, NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri explained that a fare increase was required to cover the remaining expenses.

“This isn’t price gouging,” he told reporters on Friday. “We’re literally trying to recoup our costs.”

Governor Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, has urged FIFA, the international governing body for soccer, to assume responsibility for the transportation costs.

“If it won’t, we will not be subsidizing World Cup ticket holders on the backs of New Jerseyans who rely on NJ TRANSIT every day,” she stated.

However, FIFA has expressed reluctance to cover New Jersey’s transit expenses. On Friday, the organization pointed to other U.S. host cities, such as Los Angeles, Dallas, and Houston, which are maintaining their standard transit rates.

Transit prices in Boston also will be high

Boston stands out as a notable exception, where express buses from various points to Gillette Stadium, the home of the NFL’s New England Patriots, will cost $95, according to officials’ announcements this week.

Thousands of fans have already purchased $80 round-trip train tickets from Boston to the commuter rail station near the stadium in Foxborough, a town approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) from Boston. This price is four times the usual $20 round-trip fare charged to riders during game days and other special events at Gillette.

In contrast, Los Angeles will maintain one-way fares at $1.75; Atlanta’s fares are set at $2.50; Houston’s single ride will cost $1.25; and Philadelphia’s base subway fare will remain $2.90. Kansas City is offering round-trip shuttle services from various city locations to Arrowhead Stadium for just $15.

Some of these cities have mentioned that the U.S. government has provided approximately $100 million in transit grants to support enhanced bus and rail services during the games.

FIFA says fare hike ‘unprecedented’

The soccer federation issued a warning on Friday that New Jersey’s transit pricing could have a “chilling effect.”

FIFA argued that no other global event has been asked to bear the costs of “arbitrarily set” transit prices and noted that agreements made with World Cup host cities in 2018 included provisions for free fan transportation to all matches.

“Elevated fares inevitably push fans toward alternative transportation options,” FIFA stated. “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.”

The substantial fare increase has also drawn criticism from New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

“Charging over $100 for a short train ride sounds awfully high to me,” the Democrat posted on X earlier this week. The surge pricing was initially reported by the sports outlet The Athletic.

Few other options

Alternative transportation options to MetLife Stadium will also be costly.

Shuttle buses, with a capacity for around 10,000 passengers, will depart from the midtown Manhattan bus terminal and other locations for $80 roundtrip.

Approximately 5,000 parking spaces at the nearby American Dream Mall are also being sold in advance, currently priced at $225.

MetLife Stadium features a large parking lot, but for World Cup matches, a significant portion of this area will be utilized for a fan village, shuttle buses, a staging area, and FIFA staff, according to officials.

During the 2014 Super Bowl, which the stadium also hosted, New Jersey Transit faced challenges accommodating an estimated 33,000 departing passengers. Platforms at a train transfer station became overcrowded, leaving some passengers waiting for hours to board trains.

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AP Sports Writer Mark Long in Gainesville, Florida, contributed to this report.