Atlanta’s FIFA World Cup Matches to Feature Affordable Concession Prices
Atlanta will host eight FIFA World Cup matches this summer, including a semifinal on July 15. Fans at many of the other 15 host venues in North America have already faced significant ticket markups and transportation surcharges, leading to widespread criticism.
At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, owned by Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United owner Arthur Blank, a different approach is being taken.
Blank informed WSB-TV Atlanta that the fan-friendly concession pricing established since the stadium’s opening in 2017 will remain unchanged during the World Cup.
“Fans give us their energy, their time, their passion, their resources, their families, whatever it may be, and we need to honor that in the truest sense of the word, whatever we can,” Blank said.
Why Arthur Blank believes Atlanta’s approach to fan pricing sets a different standard
Resale ticket prices for the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey have been reported to exceed $8,200 for the cheapest options.
New Jersey Transit recently confirmed that fans will pay $150 for a round-trip train ticket from Manhattan to the venue on match days, a cost more than ten times the usual fare. FIFA has also faced criticism for the face value pricing structure in certain markets.
Atlanta’s approach differs partly by design. Blank, also a co-founder of Home Depot, operates Mercedes-Benz Stadium under his company AMB Sports and Entertainment, treating affordable access as a brand commitment rather than a business afterthought.
“We can’t always control what happens on the field, what happens on the pitch, but we can control the fan experience,” Blank told WSB-TV.
Among Atlanta’s eight scheduled matches is a semifinal on July 15, one of only two games worldwide that will determine who reaches the final. Group stage matchups at the stadium include tickets priced as low as $246 at face value, according to EssentiallySports, which is considerably lower than prices in cities like Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
Blank also expressed confidence in Atlanta’s infrastructure.
“I know our stadium is ready. I mean, I can give you 100% assurance of that,” he told CBS News Atlanta. “And I think the city is ready, we’ve had great commitments from the mayor, from the governor, from everybody involved.”