“The magic on the pitch during the World Cup has a way of erasing everything that happens off it – for better or worse,” writes Kyle Feldscher | Analysis

Costs soar and so do complaints
The first thing many excited soccer fans noticed when they tried to lock in their attendance at a World Cup match – a bucket list item for many sports fans around the world – is that prices were astronomical.

They remain so as the first matches are about to kick off.

Grumblings about FIFA’s dynamic pricing model and the unchecked capitalism of the secondary ticket market started as soon as tickets went on sale and haven’t stopped. Social media has been rife with allegations that FIFA is participating in a grand scheme to drive up ticket prices, but the truth is far simpler: Demand for tickets is high and supply is low.

News out of suburban Boston and New Jersey about plans to jack up prices of public transportation to and from those stadiums on match days drew state investigations and promises from fans in Europe to simply walk the tens of miles to the stadiums so they could avoid paying the fees. Tickets that usually cost between $10 and $20 were raised to more than $100 – a price spike that was relatively naked in its attempt to make as much money as possible.

Meanwhile, Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran has roiled the global energy markets and sent the cost of gas and jet fuel soaring. The trickle-down effect on travel costs has been noticeable, and a warning from the American Hotel & Lodging Association indicates that demand for hotel rooms is far below expectations.

Such is the scrutiny around the costs for fans and travelers that relatively normal decisions – such as FIFA requiring match-goers to buy bottles of water in stadiums instead of bringing in their own or an $80 fee to put a message on the big screen at a stadium during the pre-match festivities – are being greeted with outrage.

More complaints, from at home and abroad, will likely come. The North American summer is hot and full of thunderstorms that could cause weather delays in the actual matches. The high cost of tickets could lead to empty seats for some lower-profile games when fans don’t want to shell out hundreds or thousands of dollars to see players they might not know. The huge distances that the tournament encompasses could wreak havoc on players’ health, teams’ preparation and fans trying to follow around their squad.

World Cup fever
But will any of those complaints be remembered in the future? That might be up to the players on the field.

The magic on the pitch during the World Cup has a way of erasing everything that happens off it – for better or worse.

In cities around the United States, Mexico and Canada, fan zones are popping up as a gathering place for the soccer-crazed and the soccer-curious to come and enjoy the Beautiful Game. The passion that this tournament inspires has already been on display this month as international friendlies are played around the country as national teams tune up for the big show.

And when the games get going, it’ll be the goals, saves, celebrations and moments of heartbreak that will capture the world’s attention.