New Jersey Transit says cost of train ticket to World Cup will be $150 this summer
NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- Officials with New Jersey Transit said they will charge $150 for train rides between Penn Station and MetLife Stadium during the World Cup this summer.
That's nearly 12 times the regular $12.90 fare for the roughly 15-minute, 9-mile ride from Manhattan to the stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
On-site parking won't be available for most fans, so New Jersey officials anticipate that around 40,000 fans will use mass transit for each match.
The home stadium for both the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets is set to host eight World Cup matches, including the tournament final on July 19. Group stage matches for soccer powerhouses Brazil, France, Germany and England, along with other nations, begin June 13.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill has suggested the upcharge was necessary to ensure that her state's commuters weren't stuck with a "tab for years to come" for hosting the World Cup on its return to the U.S. for the first time since 1994.
NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri said the cost has to be $150 to recoup the $48 million cost to run dedicated trains to MetLife.
"This isn't about apportioning blame, this is about the governor saying we need to make sure that the people who are going to this game pay for the service we're providing," Kolluri said. "So when you net out how we are thinking about this, this isn't profit making. We're not trying to gouge anybody. We're trying to recover the cost of $48 million that it's going to cost by charging $150 a ticket period."
RAIL SERVICE
A valid FIFA World Cup 2026 match ticket will be required to purchase transportation and to access matchday services.
To accommodate 40,000 fans, outbound service from Penn Station will be limited to stadium trains for four hours prior to kick-off. But inbound commuter service to Penn Station will be normal. For returning fans, inbound service to Penn Station will be limited to stadium trains for three hours after the match, while outbound commuter service will be normal.
For fans living in or staying in New York City, including all five boroughs, officials say they will have to use Penn Station for rail travel to the stadium on match days.
Fans with World Cup tickets can purchase timed rail tickets starting May 13. Tickets need to be purchased in advance on NJ Transit's mobile app and will not be available on the day of the match at ticket offices or ticket machines.
Regular commuters not attending the match can use their rail ticket or pass, with New York as an origin or destination station, for alternate travel options available at no additional cost using PATH train service from the 33rdStreet Station as well as NJ TRANSIT bus service from Port Authority Bus Terminal.
SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE
Bus shuttle tickets are now on sale and will provide direct, roundtrip bus service to the stadium from key locations across New York and New Jersey.
From New York City, fans can ride from the Port Authority Bus Terminal or the Midtown East Shuttle pick-up, located east of Grand Central Station, directly to the stadium.
In New Jersey, bus shuttle service will operate as a park-and-ride from the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, allowing fans to ride directly to the stadium.
All stadium bus shuttle services will use a single, unified ticketing platform.
Nontransferable and nonrefundable round-trip bus tickets are available for purchase for $80 here.
PARKING
To reduce congestion and ensure safety, there will be no general spectator parking on stadium property on match days.
A limited amount of premium parking will be offered at American Dream on matchdays by advance purchase only.
They are currently priced at $225.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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