Posted on 05/11/2026 11:47:53 AM PDT by Libloather
The biggest sporting event in world history might have a less-flattering title soon: the most expensive sporting event in world history.
The World Cup, which kicks off June 11 in Mexico City, has become a carnival for the rich so expensive it resembles a monthlong Met Gala. Just last Thursday, FIFA rolled out a $32,970 seat for the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium, triple the cost of its most expensive ticket before then.
Even in the group stage, tickets are priced in the hundreds of dollars. So is parking and, in some cities — including New York and Boston — so is public transit.
Want to take a family of four to Norway-Senegal, the cheapest game available in the New York area?
As of Saturday afternoon, there were four “Category Four” seats in Section 306, the upper corner of the stadium, available for $402.50 apiece on FIFA’s resale site, the cheapest option between the traditional secondary market (StubHub, SeatGeek, etc.), the official resale and what’s left at face value.
That’s $1,610 for tickets, plus if you’re coming in from the city, you’ll have to factor in the $105 NJ Transit ticket per person, which jacks up the total cost to $2,030, still before buying any food or beverages.
Or you could always park. That’ll require paying $225 for a space at American Dream and walking, though, since the general parking lots are being used for fan engagement and enhanced security.
For a 90-minute game, that comes out to $5.64 per person, per minute.
Tickets for the Mets-Cubs game at Citi Field the same night, by the way, can be had for less than $50 a pop. That does, however, require watching the Mets play baseball.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
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There is a general lack of FReeper understanding how soccer is positioning itself to take a substantial slice of the sports entertainment adult interest pie. That is where the money is at.
- adjusted the soccer schedule to coincide with Europe
- introduced another professional league to feed into MLS; more stadium deals
- introduced promotion and relegation just like Europe
- reformed the soccer academy scheme in order to not rely merely on “pay for play” child athletes: kids will be getting recruited much earlier to play inside an academy, surrendering their rights to the respective academy
In other words......they are doing everything other competing American sports Directors don’t do. The foundation is being built...and is mostly already done.
But the best the MLS can do is be like the Euro Basketball League.
The best players are still going to play in Europe, just as the best basketball players will play in the NBA.
The entire World Cup thing has fallen apart because of greed, the opposition to the Iranian and Ukraine war at a number of other factors. Travel are certainly a big concern.
I just saw last night were a number of airlines that had planned for all of this tourism traffic coming into the United States for the World Cup now rethought and dropped a number of flights because it’s not happening. The demand for travel is not there. Not to mention there’s a shortage of jet fuel.
It still costs an arm and a leg to develop good players here.
That tempts me, but I’m leery of all of these historic bands down to few or no original members, and that includes the Eagles, Little River Band, and Rush. Last concert I went to had Tedeschi Trucks and Buddy Guy. Felt like a bargain at $150 a ticket.
People today are a lot wealthier than they were even 10 years ago. I don’t know anyone at my church who is not making 6 figures. The women all wear expensive clothes and have Coach bags.
People today are a lot wealthier than they were even 10 years ago. I don’t know anyone at my church who is not making 6 figures. The women all wear expensive clothes and have Coach bags.
People today are a lot wealthier than they were even 10 years ago. I don’t know anyone at my church who is not making 6 figures. The women all wear expensive clothes and have Coach bags.
Me either. It's borrrrrrrring!
Good point. But my point is they spend big.
As Papa Joe Chevalier used to say, Communist Kickball.
Why naught just watch on ‘net reruns?
Will it end 0-0?
LOL.....
No depression if people spend that kind of money.
Are any Americans gong? No one I know cares about soccer.
Met him once. Wore all my Cowboys gear. What a hoot.
American players are already playing in Europe. The transfer portal will now be on the same schedule as the Europeans in which American players can play there.
And yes, the cost of training players in the US is exorbitant. That is why the academy system is expected to defray the costs.
I don’t think I’d go to any sports game if it was free.
A few years ago I was given my employers four tickets to a Baltimore Ravens game the year after they won the championship.
I gave them to a friend.
I remember paying $2.00 to see Mark Frydrych pitch at Tiger Stadium back around 1977. Parking may have been another $2.00, and maybe another $4.00 for food. Saved up for a while for that. He still lost.
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