April 16 – Boston World Cup organisers have announced that fans can now pay $95 for a round-trip shuttle bus to Gillette Stadium for matches.
Twenty-two miles. $95. On a bus. This announcement comes on the back of the New Jersey transit authority racking up its prices to visit MetLife Stadium.
The service will run from over 20 pickup points, including Logan Airport, Providence, and dozens of hotels. Up to 10,000 fans per match will be able to use the service, however they will be required to book their spot in advance. Furthermore, they can only buy a seat if they already have a match ticket.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is also running trains at a cost of $80 per round trip, with a capacity 20,000 per match.
Cities in the United States are cashing in on FIFA’s biggest tournament at a higher rate than any host before. Just four years ago, in Qatar, travelling to the stadium was free, now cities are targeting transport, food and merchandise as revenue streams to boost their commercial profiles.
Back in Boston, questions must be asked as to whether Gillette Stadium is the right venue to host World Cup fixtures. The facility is 22 miles outside of Boston, forcing fans to outlay upward of $80 just to reach the stadium, and that’s before the cost of a dynamically priced ticket and sustenance is added onto the matchday experience.
When does it stop? It doesn’t. That’s the honest answer. It doesn’t stop because the fans keep paying, because the World Cup carries enough magic that fans will absorb until they don’t… Is this World Cup the tipping point?
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at [email protected]