New Jersey Wins MetLife Sign Change for 8 World Cup Matches
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 22
New Jersey Wins MetLife Sign Change for 8 World Cup Matches
5 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 22
Work has begun to switch MetLife Stadium’s main World Cup sign to “New Jersey New York” from “New York New Jersey,” giving New Jersey top billing on the side most visible to arriving rail passengers.
Governor Mikie Sherrill’s office sought the change months ago, arguing New Jersey’s role and spending were underrecognized and tying the request to FIFA’s own operational changes at the venue.
The dispute sits inside a broader cost fight: NJ Transit set round-trip World Cup fares at $98 for the 18-mile trip from Penn Station after saying tournament transport will cost $48 million across eight matches.
Sherrill has pressed FIFA to cover more of those expenses, saying the tournament could generate $11 billion while New Jersey has already committed more than $300 million in related spending.
Fresh friction also emerged after FIFA let New York City distribute 1,000 subsidized $50 tickets only to city residents, while New Jersey leaders instead secured about $3.6 million to aid disrupted commuters.
As host cities bear massive costs for FIFA's record revenue, is the World Cup's economic model fundamentally broken for local taxpayers?
With no parking and $98 train tickets, will the World Cup final be an event only the wealthy can attend in person?