The World Cup’s Impact on Atlanta, By the Numbers

Argentina/Spain may have won the World Cup, but Atlanta captured the potential of the monthlong soccer tournament.

By hosting eight matches, including Argentina’s dramatic semifinal victory over England, and one of the tournament’s most attended FIFA Fan Festivals, Atlanta once again demonstrated why it is regularly called upon to host major events like the Super Bowl and Final Four.

Argentina fans rejoiced during the semifinal in Atlanta. Photo Credit: Atlanta CVB

And while there will be much talk of economic impact in the coming months and years, the city and sports community threaded the needle between generating revenue and customer satisfaction. For instance, Mercedes-Benz Stadium made the intentional decision to keep its “Fan First” pricing in place throughout the FIFA World Cup. So the same $2 sodas, $2 hotdogs, $3 bottles of water and $5 cheeseburgers available during Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United were served at the same prices for international audiences.

“From the beginning of the bid process in 2018, we knew Atlanta and Georgia had everything it takes to host an incredible FIFA World Cup, and our region exceeded every expectation,” said Corso, president of the Atlanta Sports Council and Atlanta World Cup Host Committee. “This was truly a team effort, with our host committee staff, civic, community and business leaders, partners, public agencies and volunteers all coming together to create something truly special. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who played a role in showcasing why we are the best city in the world for hosting sports and major events.”

To maximize the experience, the city employed the Last Mile Plan, a wayfinding system developed with the Savannah College of Art & Design, to guide fans on foot from transit hubs and parking decks to the stadium campus. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is walking distance to many other major venues, including Georgia World Congress Center, Centennial Olympic Park, and downtown hotels.

Said William Pate, president and CEO of the Atlanta CVB: “The FIFA World Cup gave us an extraordinary opportunity to welcome the world to Atlanta, and our hospitality community delivered at every turn. From hotels, restaurants and attractions to transportation providers and the thousands of hospitality professionals who welcomed guests each day, our industry came together to create memorable experiences that extended well beyond the matches. The global visibility generated during the tournament will continue to strengthen our tourism industry and reinforce Atlanta's reputation as a world-class destination.”

That’s the long-term impact. Here is what the World Cup meant to Atlanta in June and July, when FIFA took over the destination.

FIFA Fan Festival Atlanta drew more half a million visitors. Photo Credit: Atlanta CVB

BY THE NUMBERS:

• Mercedes-Benz Stadium welcomed 544,516 fans across Atlanta's eight matches.
• FIFA Fan Festival Atlanta welcomed more than 500,000 visitors averaging more than 27,000 guests each day and ranking among the most-attended FIFA Fan Festivals in the United States.
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosted an estimate of 2,000 media from 82 countries.
• FIFA Fan Festival welcomed more than 2,200 media representatives from 89 countries across six continents.
• MARTA transported more than 2.5 million riders during the tournament, close to a 200% increase from regular ridership.
• Atlanta's FIFA Volunteer Program included more than 2,000 volunteers who completed more than 10,000 shifts and contributed over 55,000 hours of service throughout the tournament.
• More than 200 Savannah College of Art & Design students and alumni from many of the university’s top-ranked degree programs contributed to AWCHC initiatives through physical and interactive art, panoramic campaign implementation, and seamlessly integrated technology.
• The AWCHC’s partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Georgia positively impacted more than 4,500 youth statewide through soccer-based programming.
• More than 150 community events and watch parties were hosted by local organizations throughout the region, bringing fans together to celebrate the FIFA World Cup.
• The AWCHC social media channels (@FWC26Atlanta) generated more than 140 million impressions between June 1 and July 15, reflecting global reach and engagement surrounding Atlanta’s FIFA World Cup host city activities.

Photo Credit: Atlanta CVB