Transportation plans for World Cup raise concerns among businesses in New Jersey
NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- Transportation plans for the upcoming World Cup games at MetLife Stadium are drawing criticism from local business owners, who say a lack of clarity and limited options could hurt both operators and fans.
Getting to and from matches poses challenges beyond the cost of $150 New Jersey Transit tickets, according to representatives from the transportation and hospitality industries. They say uncertainty about parking, drop-off locations and access for private vehicles has left many unable to plan.
"We don't know where we can go, if we can park, if we can't park," said Michelle Petelicki of the Greater Northeast Motorcoach Association.
Petelicki said operators are eager to help but feel shut out of the planning process.
"We're just trying to relay over to New Jersey transit and to the host committee, is that we're here to support, but the lack of transparency and information, understanding where their pain points might lie is very difficult for us to understand how we can help," Petelicki said.
Those concerns were aired Friday morning at the Meadowland Chamber Conventions and Visitors Bureau in Lyndhurst, where the heads of New Jersey Transit and the 2026 World Cup host committee met with local business owners.
During the session, representatives for black car and limousine services said their members have been excluded.
"Our members, the black cars and limousine operators, have kinda been left out," one speaker said. "You have to think about the thousands that are coming from New York that are unaccounted for, and today there is a clear plan," Mike Rose, president of NJ Chauffeured Transportation Association, said.
Another speaker said the situation could dampen what should be a celebratory event.
"It's kinda frustrating because you're talking about the fan experience. And this is like a downer for the fan experience when people are booking hotel rooms across the street, and there is no way of getting there besides the rideshare, which, truthfully, is going to be a nightmare."
At present, the only host committee-sanctioned transportation to the stadium is New Jersey Transit and rideshare services. There is no general admission parking and no accommodation for black car services, sprinter vans or private buses.
"We're not thinking about a potential problem here," Rose said. "We're surrounded by New York, the TCL, the largest tlc in the world, you're going to have a lot of vehicles coming across the water that are going to have no knowledge of these plans, they haven't been disseminated outside of New Jersey."
Host committee CEO Alex Lasry emphasized that public transportation is expected to handle the bulk of the crowds.
"This is an event where public transit is going to be the way to go. And I would urge everyone who wants to get to the stadium in a fast and efficient way to take public transportation. That is going to be the best way to get to the stadium," Alex Lasry, CEO of NYNJ 2026 World Cup Host Committee, said.
Even with rideshare options, some worry about long walks between pickup and drop-off zones and the stadium, particularly during summer heat.
"But, you know, it's are you really having fun?" said Henry Perez. "If you have to worry about how you're going to get there, and where are you going to get dropped off? Or have you have to walk a mile to the stadium in June heat, July heat? I mean, you get exhausted," Black Car Service Owner Henry Perez said.
The Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce said it hopes to address the feedback raised during the information session. Chamber President Jim Kirkos said he plans to push planners to consider compromises.
"Yeah, I think I'm going to request, quite frankly, that that they look at that the planners look at the idea of having an opportunity for black cars to drop off at rideshare," Kirkos said. "And the same thing about maybe making a hybrid experience for the parking rides, where at least I said so there would be a cost involved that people would still have to buy the ticket to get on that shuttle to go from that parking lot," CEO Meadowlands Chamber Convention & Visitors Bureau Jim Kirkos said.
Organizers have not announced any changes, but business owners say continued dialogue will be critical as the World Cup approaches.
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