World Cup fans are spending money in Philly. How much will actually stay in the city?

The World Cup has arrived in Philadelphia and out of town visitors are flocking to the games, and learning about Rocky’s curse.

But how much of the money they’re spending will actually stay in Philadelphia?

The World Cup games were originally expected to generate a $770 million economic impact in the Philadelphia region, Axios reported in 2024. But just $30 million to $90 million is likely to stay in the region and benefit the local economy, according to estimates in a new report by the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia.

Thousands have visited the Lemon Hill FIFA Fan Festival since it kicked off on June 11, and used SEPTA after the first Philly-hosted match earlier this month. Philadelphia International Airport also estimated a bump in travel through the airport around the June 19 game between Brazil and Haiti.

But not all spending is equal.

U.S. cities are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to host World Cup matches, but are limited in how much revenue they can amass from the events, according to a ProPublica analysis of host city contracts, including Philadelphia’s.

Some of the money coming into the city during the World Cup would have been spent in Philadelphia anyway, but perhaps differently, the Economy League report indicates.

While the city is gaining World Cup visitors, it may be losing out on regular business travelers and others that would have come to Philadelphia if not for the World Cup, the report said. Meanwhile, some who are spending money to enjoy the tournament in Philadelphia are residents, who would be spending money in the city anyway. And some fan spending is flowing directly to FIFA and other platforms, rather than to the city’s economy.

The report highlights three areas seeing most of that spending: The stadium district, Center City hotels and restaurants, and the Fan Festival at Lemon Hill.

“The commercial corridors beyond this core, which make up most of the city, are unlikely to see much benefit without deliberate effort, because visitor spending follows the path of least friction — toward where people sleep, arrive, or already intend to go,” the report says.

In the stadium district, where customers have bought tickets to attend games, they’re spending on merchandise and concessions — but few of those dollars trickle down to local independent businesses.

In Center City, hotels and restaurants are benefiting most, but it’s not as though they wouldn’t be getting business without the games, the report notes.

Some local food trucks and independent vendors can make money at the FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill. But because the venue is gated, surrounding businesses only profit if visitors leave the festival site.

And locals are paying the price of hosting the World Cup in other ways.

Residents who live around the Fan Festival at Lemon Hill are unable to catch a Lyft or Uber from home because of festival restrictions, and parking in the area requires applying for a special permit. The Philadelphia Parking Authority dolled out thousands of tickets in the first few days of the festival.

Still, the report outlines, much can be gained locally through the World Cup. Lemon Hill is set to receive $4 million in improvements, and some other benefits are harder to quantify.

“Philadelphia has shown it can move large crowds and stage a global event capably, and the reputational and civic returns, while hard to value, are real,” the report outlines.