The Whole World Is About to Get a Look at America's Trains

"The planet's biggest sporting event, the World Cup final, will take place this summer in MetLife Stadium, which is presently known as New York New Jersey Stadium because FIFA has strict rules on corporate branding. The stadium-whatever you want to call it-is located in the marshlands of New Jersey, about nine miles from Midtown Manhattan. On the day of the final, as on the dates of seven other matches throughout the World Cup tournament, an estimated 80,000 fans will converge at its gates."

"But how will they get there? Some will drive, even though they'll have to pay $225 to use one of the 5,000 available parking spots at a nearby shopping mall that is connected to the stadium area by pedestrian bridges. Others will buy a seat on a shuttle bus-originally $80, cut to $20 after last-minute maneuvering by New York Governor Kathy Hochul. (Some of these will be yellow school buses.) Or they will cough up whatever amount ride-share apps are charging on those days. And the rest-up to 40,000 people for each event-will take their chances on an infrequently used branch of New Jersey Transit that has struggled with large crowds in the past."

"In Dallas, most people who are going to the stadium will either have to pay for expensive parking or take a commuter rail to a charter bus. Kansas City will rely entirely on charter buses. Where direct rail access is available, the trains aren't likely to be convenient, and tickets may be outrageously expensive. New Jersey is a case in point: Last month, NJ Transit announced plans to charge $150 for each round-trip journey on a route that would otherwise cost less than $13."

"That price was later reduced to $105, thanks to donations from various unnamed companies, then reduced again to $98 just before tickets went on sale-but the fact of a"

The World Cup final will be held this summer at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, about nine miles from Midtown Manhattan. FIFA branding rules require the venue name to be restricted, affecting how the stadium is referred to publicly. Around 80,000 fans are expected to arrive on match day, with similar crowds for other matches. Attendance will be split among driving with paid parking at a nearby mall, taking shuttle buses whose prices were reduced after last-minute actions, using ride-share services, or using an infrequently used NJ Transit branch. Rail access across U.S. host cities is often inconvenient, expensive, or limited, and some routes have seen large fare increases despite later reductions.

Read at The Atlantic