Some Philadelphians are having World Cup host anxiety
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With the World Cup just weeks away, Philadelphia is gearing up for soccer mania — but not everyone's cheering.
Why it matters: Some residents plan to sit it out, dreading the crowds, costs and disruptions that could come with welcoming more than half a million visitors for a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.
Driving the news: Most Philly-area residents are embracing the tourney, planning to attend games or celebrations, per new polling from ParkMobile shared exclusively with Axios. But about a fifth of those surveyed say they're skipping the tournament altogether or leaving town.
- One of the biggest turnoffs: Potential high costs for parking, dining out and transportation, including rideshare surge pricing.
- 68% of residents say they're worried pricing spikes will affect their neighborhoods.
Plus: Many are expecting World Cup traffic to add an extra 30 to 60 minutes to their commutes.
- Nearly half of commuters say they're planning to avoid the potential gridlock during the tourney by working remotely.
How it works: ParkMobile surveyed 1,000 people across the Philly region in late March, including people living in the city and surrounding suburbs, about their expectations for the tournament.
The concerns come as:
- Some local restaurants consider temporarily adding 20% service charges to bills to account for World Cup fans arriving from countries with different tipping cultures.
- FIFA faces criticism for its stadium parking prices. At Lincoln Financial Field, parking could cost up to $620 for a single match.
- And some of those looking to make a buck off of leaving town are still waiting. Only about 42% of Philly's available short-term rentals for the World Cup group stage have been booked, per AirDNA data cited by the Wall Street Journal last week.
What they're saying: Even in a city used to major events at the South Philly sports complex, the World Cup could test residents' patience, Ryan Slack of ParkMobile tells Axios.
- His advice: Take a deep breath and enjoy the tournament in your own way — whether that's going out or watching at home.
Zoom out: The World Cup is projected to generate $770 million in economic impact for the region.
- But that windfall isn't free: Philadelphia has spent millions of dollars on airport upgrades and programming, including a Lemon Hill Fan Fest expected to draw about 15,000 people daily.
- It's still unclear whether the World Cup — alongside other 250th events — will help the city recoup its investment, though it's expected to bring in roughly $51 million in tax revenue.
Between the lines: While many ParkMobile survey respondents expressed cautious optimism about the city infrastructure's ability to handle crowds, some aren't so sure.
- About 22% of residents rated their confidence at a 5 out of 10 or lower.
The bottom line: The tournament could be both a major economic opportunity and a logistical headache.