NEWARK: Round-trip public transit tickets to World Cup games in New Jersey will cost $150, up from less than $15 for the same route on a typical day, Fifa and NJ Transit officials said on Friday.
The more than 10-fold increase in transit fares adds to the cost of World Cup match tickets, which can run into the thousands of dollars.
"We're expecting public transportation across the shuttle and New Jersey transit to sell out, because those are going to be the fastest and most efficient ways to get to the stadium," the CEO of the World Cup's New York/New Jersey host committee said on Friday.
The service will include round trips from New York City to the MetLife Stadium on trains and shuttles. About 40,000 non-refundable tickets will be available for World Cup ticket holders and go on sale on May 13.
The stadium has a capacity of around 80,000 people.
Fifa will run a shuttle bus service to the stadium from several locations, including Manhattan, which will cost $80 for a round trip, several times higher than the price for the same journey on a regular day, and will have a capacity to transport 10,000 people. Tickets are expected to go on sale on Friday.
Asked to justify the price hikes, which typically do not occur during other events at the same stadium, New Jersey Transit CEO Kris Kolluri linked it to the higher number of passengers, driven by the closure of public parking around the stadium and increased costs due to World Cup security requirements.
"All consumer protection triggers that usually trigger a violation don't apply to us, because, one, we're seeking reimbursement for what we're spending, and two, we're not a for-profit company," Kolluri said.
Other transportation options, including rideshare, will be limited because public parking lots around the stadium that normally accommodate more than 20,000 cars will be closed on game days.
The host committee said it will manage traffic to reduce congestion near the stadium. It gave a drop-off location for cars that is about a 20-minute-long walk from the stadium.
Penn Station in Manhattan will be closed to other passengers for four hours before and after the games.
The MetLife Stadium will host eight World Cup games including the final.
