World Cup train fares in New Jersey were just discounted by $45. They still top $100.
New Jersey Transit World Cup fares will cost $105 instead of $150 after private donors subsidized the cost. Gov. Mikie Sherrill believes FIFA should pay the fares.
New Jersey Transit lowered the cost of a ride to the World Cup, but it still costs $100 more than the train in Philly.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill and New Jersey Transit have faced fierce criticism from FIFA for pricing round-trip tickets to MetLife Stadium at $150 for the eight World Cup games hosted by the state in East Rutherford. The round-trip ticket will now cost $105, a 30% reduction, because of private donations to offset the cost of transporting tens of thousands of people.
Kris Kolluri, the president of NJ Transit, described the funding as “private sponsorships and other sources,” but he has not specified exactly where the money is coming from.
Sherrill spokesperson Steve Sigmund said the governor “appreciates all the companies that have already stepped up to lower the costs for ticket holders.”
The price tag is still steep compared to other host areas in the region like Philadelphia, which is not raising SEPTA fares, which cost $2.90 within the city. Boston also raised its fare but still set it lower than New Jersey at $80.
Kolluri previously said that bringing spectators to Metlife Stadium is “very different fundamentally” than SEPTA riders going to matches in Philadelphia because the Lincoln Financial Stadium is an “urban stadium with urban transportation access.”
Sherrill has criticized the agreement FIFA made with former Gov. Phil Murphy, a fellow Democrat, and argued that FIFA should pay for spectators’ transit to New Jersey games. The organization has not been happy with her suggestion.
“Governor Sherrill has been clear that FIFA should contribute to transport its fans to World Cup games,” Sigmund said. “Since it hasn’t, she directed NJ Transit to seek private and non-taxpayer dollars to significantly reduce the fare.”
Kolluri said Sherrill sought out ways to lower the fare because she understands “how important it is for New Jersey to showcase the state to the world,” seemingly aware of the bad publicity that’s resulted from the high fares.
» READ MORE: Camden County won’t be left out of World Cup festivities. Gov. Mikie Sherrill announces South Jersey fan fests.
He has said the $150 price tag wasn’t inflated, but rather reflects how much it will cost the state agency to move 40,000 riders to and from eight games. Sherrill has said she won’t let New Jerseyans pick up the tab as she negotiates her first state budget with the legislature and argues the state needs to have a tight leash on spending.
Refusing to use state money for FIFA transit is just one of the ways Sherrill is handling the World Cup differently than Murphy.
Sherrill also announced the state will spend $5 million on regional World Cup celebrations in lieu of a now-cancelled massive fan fest at Liberty State Park in Jersey City that was championed by former first lady Tammy Murphy, who chairs the New York New Jersey Host Committee.
The New Jersey Transit tickets will be available starting May 13 and will be non-refundable and non-transferrable.
The train is one of few ways to get to Metlife Stadium for the matches. There will be $80 shuttles leaving from limited locations, limited (and pricey) parking at American Dream, and limited (and probably pricey) ride shares.
FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.
