NJ Transit World Cup fares
Reports say NJ Transit plans to charge more than $100 for a round‑trip rail ticket between New York Penn and MetLife Stadium on World Cup match days — roughly eight times a normal return fare, according to one analysis. (The proposed price point and the multiple‑of‑fare comparison were reported alongside political pushback.) (sportsbusinessjournal.com; 6sqft.com)
New Jersey Transit is weighing World Cup train fares above $100 for the ride between New York Penn Station and MetLife Stadium, but says the price is not final. (nbcnewyork.com) NBC New York reported on April 14 that the agency was preparing to charge more than $100 for a round trip to the Meadowlands. The same trip typically costs $12.90 on event days, which would put the proposed fare at nearly eight times the usual price. (nbcnewyork.com) New Jersey Transit said only that match-day pricing “has not been finalized” and that the agency expects the eight MetLife matches to cost about $48 million to operate. Governor Mikie Sherrill said this week that New Jersey taxpayers and regular commuters should not cover those costs. (nbcnewyork.com; fox5ny.com) The fare fight is tied to a bigger transit plan for the tournament. New Jersey Transit’s World Cup page says fans going to matches at “New York New Jersey Stadium” will ride to Secaucus Junction and transfer to the Meadowlands Rail Line, and only match ticketholders will be allowed on that rail service. (njtransit.com) That matters for daily riders because Penn Station access is also being reshaped on match days. A plan reported earlier this month would limit parts of Penn Station to World Cup ticketholders for several hours before the eight MetLife matches, while New Jersey-bound commuters would be diverted. (6sqft.com) MetLife Stadium is scheduled to host eight World Cup matches between June 13 and July 19, including the final on July 19. The listed dates are June 13, 16, 22, 25, and 27, plus knockout matches on June 30 and July 5. (metlifestadium.com) Sherrill said she directed New Jersey Transit to seek more capacity, consider discounts, and find other ways to reduce crowding on the match days that overlap with peak commuting periods. Senator Chuck Schumer called the reported fare a “shakedown,” while Governor Kathy Hochul said a $100-plus fare for a short ride was “awfully high.” (fox5ny.com; nbcnewyork.com) New Jersey Transit has not posted final World Cup ticket prices or match-day schedules on its fare page or tournament page. The agency says those details will be released closer to the tournament, leaving the central question unresolved with less than two months before the first MetLife match on June 13. (njtransit.com; njtransit.com)
