A costly experiment
NJ Transit launched a $98 shuttle service for the World Cup matches in East Rutherford, New Jersey, hoping to move 40,000 fans per game. By May 31, only 17,739 of the 320,000 allocated tickets had been sold, a clear sign that the price, though reduced from $150 to $98 with advertiser backing, still proved prohibitive for many supporters.
The fare remains seven times the regular $13.90 commuter rate, a disparity that has drawn international criticism from fans planning to travel to the United States for the tournament. In contrast, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority reported selling more than 17,000 tickets on the first day of sales for games in Foxborough, Massachusetts, indicating a markedly different public response to comparable pricing.
Governor Mikie Sherrill has publicly stated that the agency should not subsidize transportation for an event projected to generate $11 billion in profit for FIFA, emphasizing fiscal responsibility amid limited parking and exorbitant costs at the Meadowlands venue.
To mitigate the parking crunch, the New York New Jersey Host Committee is offering shuttle buses at $80 from sites across New Jersey, while a separate New York‑only service charges $20 per ticket, of which about 32,000 of the 126,000 available seats had been sold as of Monday. These initiatives highlight the complex logistics and high price points that accompany mega‑sporting events.
The episode underscores a growing tension between public‑transit agencies and organizers of globally lucrative tournaments, as officials grapple with the balance between serving citizens and catering to the financial ambitions of bodies like FIFA.