This summer, Mercedes-Benz Stadium has been hosting matches for the Club World Cup, which features 63 games across 12 locations in 11 cities. In Atlanta, the six matches attracted some fans, though not on the scale expected for next year’s events. Cheering crowds came to see big names like Chelsea FC and Manchester City, but attendance was lower than anticipated.
The first match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was between Chelsea and saw the lowest turnout for a soccer event there, outside of the pandemic period, with only about 22,000 fans filling 71,000 seats. Over the first four matches, the average attendance was under 40,000, which is quite a bit less than the venue’s capacity.
Jacqueline Bassett, sales manager at the Reverb Downtown Atlanta hotel, shared that they experienced a noticeable uptick in business thanks to the matches. Nearby businesses such as restaurants also noted increased customer flow, particularly from out-of-town visitors. Monique Fortune from The Food Shoppe mentioned that the eatery saw more customers on match days. However, not everyone shared the same optimism; some restaurant owners were disappointed with the turnout.
MARTA, the local transit system, reported lower ridership numbers for these matches compared to Atlanta United games. Typically, around 17,000 people use MARTA for a standard soccer match, but the Club World Cup games saw ridership between 5,500 and 11,700.
Ticket prices were cut, with some available for as low as $97 just hours before the matches, reflecting the struggles in drawing attendees. The cheapest tickets for the upcoming showdown between Inter Miami and FC Porto were around $160, which is considerable for a match featuring stars like Lionel Messi.
Some dedicated fans made the trip to support their teams, with Chelsea’s local fan club bringing together supporters from various cities including Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York. Yet even loyal fans found ticket prices quite high, affecting overall attendance.
William Pate, the president and CEO of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, expressed optimism, stating that hosting these matches would boost tourism and enhance Atlanta’s visibility as it prepares for next year’s FIFA World Cup.
