[Saba Sports News] According to British media reports, parking fees may be one of the most lucrative businesses at this World Cup, with the maximum parking charge near SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles reaching nearly 300 US dollars. In most countries, stadiums with a capacity of over 50,000 spectators mainly rely on public transport to disperse crowds. In the United States, however, cars are the preferred mode of travel, especially in Los Angeles, a city renowned for its traffic jams and vast sprawl. During the opening match between the United States and Paraguay, thousands of fans drove to SoFi Stadium. Parking spaces can be reserved via the official FIFA app, with prices rising the closer the spots are to the stadium. Some parking bays were priced at nearly 290 US dollars ahead of kick-off. For the upcoming less high-profile fixture between Iran and New Zealand, parking spaces on FIFA’s official platform still cost between 126 and 250 US dollars, located just a five-minute walk from the stadium. Notably, even designated accessible parking spaces for disabled visitors cost around 250 US dollars.
The editor believes that the same pricing pattern can also be seen around fan zones. During the opening match between Mexico and South Africa, the Mexican fan zone in Los Angeles was packed to capacity. The city is only a two-hour drive away from the Mexican border. Parking lots near the fan zone start at around 30 US dollars, while spots close to the entrances cost as much as 80 US dollars. Long queues formed as parking demand remained extremely high.