Atlanta has been buzzing with excitement ever since it was selected as a host city for the upcoming World Cup, but that enthusiasm is being dimmed by the steep cost of attending matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
A lifelong fan's hope
The lowest-priced ticket available for any game at the stadium starts at $155, a figure that places the event out of reach for many ordinary fans, especially those on fixed incomes.
Among those hoping to finally see a World Cup match in person is Dave Marler, a 66‑year‑old resident of LaGrange who has followed soccer in metro Atlanta since his teenage years.
Marler grew up playing the sport during the region's soccer boom, was a supporter of Atlanta's former North American Soccer League team, and even helped form the first soccer squad at Morrow High School as a tenth‑grader.
For Marler, the tournament represents a personal milestone that has been decades in the making, a chance to watch the world's best on home soil after a lifetime of watching from the stands and the sidelines.