I’m not the biggest World Cup fan, so when the first general-admission tickets went on sale earlier this year, it didn’t cross my mind to check the prices for an individual game.
World Cup tickets reportedly hit the market at seven times the expected rate, with one consumer telling Business Insider that they spent over $2,000 on a single ticket through FIFA’s resale portal. Unfortunately, even if I wanted to attend, my bank account wasn’t prepared to support such behavior.
Lucky for me, in addition to the actual games, FIFA launched 13 Fan Festivals across Canada, Mexico, and the US. I figured this would be my best option for joining the festivities.
I found it hard to ignore all the World Cup fanfare in Atlanta, my home city
It was equally hard to ignore the starting price for attending the Atlanta FIFA Fan Festival: $0.
Guests still had to reserve both free and paid tickets online.
The sold-out festival is taking place at the Centennial Olympic Park, right around the corner from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where seven World Cup matches have already been held. Atlanta will host its final match on July 15.
With tickets ranging from free general admission to $325 VIP packages, Atlanta’s FIFA Fan Festival has drawn more than 450,000 visitors, according to organizers, making it one of the country’s most-attended events alongside Philadelphia’s FIFA Fan Fest and Miami’s.
After checking out the hype for myself, I had such a good time with the music, concerts, activations, free swag, and energetic crowds that I went twice.
On my second visit to the Atlanta FIFA Fan Festival on June 26, I asked attendees why they think it’s consistently been one of the country’s most-attended Fan Festivals.
Here are the guests who stood out from the crowd and what they shared.
Atlanta’s diversity is on full display
Twin sisters Shanteria and Siera W. told BI that World Cup tickets were out of their budget. They only spent $15 on drinks to stay hydrated at the Atlanta Fan Fest.
“Atlanta has just upgraded into something more and more popular,” Shanteria said. “Atlanta is diverse. You can come from any culture, any background, and just have fun.”
“Everybody comes from different places, and we welcome everybody,” Siera added.
The crowd and giant screen create a stadium-like atmosphere
Another team Mexico fan, Daniel S., caught my attention with his small group of friends.
Daniel, who shared that he’s also an Atlanta FIFA Fan Fest volunteer, was enjoying the match between Spain and Uruguay on the 40-foot jumbo screen. Out of all the ways to watch the World Cup, being in a crowd of up to 15,000 with a few close friends is memorable and one of his highlights.
Atlanta knows how to host major sporting events
Torrence, a Chicago native who lives in Atlanta, said he didn’t bother looking at World Cup tickets.
He spent about $40 on drinks and enjoyed running into his frat brother while taking in the festivities. He was rooting for Côte d’Ivoire, which lost to Norway in the first knockout round.
“Atlanta’s a good city, good atmosphere. Super Bowl, College Football Championship — they’re always doing something here,” Torrence said. “I’m with it. I’m out here having a good time”
Visitors found getting to the festival easy
Friends Rebecca and Anna took MARTA into the city to watch Spain, which has advanced to the semifinals.
The pair said they spent about $6 each after driving from Johns Creek, Georgia, to the nearest train station. They also didn’t bother looking up World Cup tickets due to the high prices.
Both ladies found the Atlanta FIFA Fan Fest to be a fun and affordable way to experience the World Cup.
The Atlanta FIFA Fan Festival celebrated more than the World Cup teams
The festival was filled with jerseys from countries that weren’t even competing in the World Cup. As a Liberian, I immediately spotted a Liberia soccer jersey in the crowd and had to speak with Jordan McGlotten, whose family is also from the country.
McGlotten, who is from Virginia and lives in Atlanta, was on his third visit to the festival and said he spent roughly $80 altogether.
“We’ve got a little bit of everything,” McGlotten said. “It’s very diverse. We have a lot of different nationalities. We have the trees, we have the skyline, we have everything.”
He also reminded me that the US Soccer headquarters and national training center are just south of Atlanta, making it somewhat of a soccer city.
Being at the festival felt like being a part of history
Joi and Xavier, a couple cheering for Haiti, said the Atlanta FIFA Fan Festival had amazing vibes.
This was Haiti’s first time in 52 years competing at the World Cup. Speaking with Haitian fans felt like being a part of the long-awaited return. Though Haiti was knocked out in the group stage, the Atlanta FIFA Fan Festival wasn’t about fans simply cheering on their team. It was about culture, pride, and unity.
After spending time there, I can see why Atlanta’s FIFA Fan Festival has become one of the country’s busiest.
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