Hotels across the United States are reducing prices for the upcoming World Cup this summer due to lower than expected demand. Reports indicate that room rates have been slashed by approximately one-third in cities hosting tournament matches, such as Dallas, where England will face Croatia in their opening game on June 19. This adjustment comes as a response to criticism over high ticket prices and negative sentiment towards the US.
Fifa President Gianni Infantino had anticipated a significant increase in hotel bookings for the World Cup, which is set to take place in the US, Canada, and Mexico. However, Vijay Dandapani, the president of the Hotel Association of New York City, stated that they have not witnessed a substantial surge in demand yet, contrary to Fifa’s projections.
Scott Yesner, the founder of Bespoke Stay, noted a growing sense of unease among hotel operators, leading many to lower their rates. Additionally, Fifa has canceled thousands of hotel room reservations for its staff, leaving hotels with excess inventory to sell.
Lior Sekler, the chief commercial officer at HRI Hospitality, attributed the decline in visitors to dissatisfaction with the current US administration, as well as visa and immigration policies. Some fans are also deterred by exorbitant ticket prices for the games.
Ticket costs have soared, with the cheapest tickets now priced at ten times the initial bid proposed by the hosting countries. For instance, England supporters must pay a minimum of $220 (£162) for matches against Ghana and Panama, escalating to $700 (£515) for category one tickets for the Croatia game. Prices escalate further as teams progress in the tournament, with final tickets reaching up to £6,400 each. The Football Supporters Association has condemned these prices as “scandalous.”