Is the World Cup affecting Broadway?

[Fred Mason]

Is the World Cup affecting Broadway?#1

Posted: 6/22/26 at 5:56am

Are people avoiding the city during this tournament?  Metlife Stadium is hosting 8 games during the World Cup, and there’s higher amounts of traffic and large crowds of people taking over the public transit stations. 

[inception]

Is the World Cup affecting Broadway?#2

Posted: 6/22/26 at 7:59am

I'm curious if there is much effect to Manhattan as the games are over in New Jersey.

Here in Vancouver it is taking place at a stadium right downtown,  a few blocks my work.  For security whole streets have been blocked off for the duration of the games even though there are a few days between each match.  This coming week will be interesting as there will be a game midweek that starts at Noon.  The building I work at has hired extra security guards, & on game days keeps the doors locked.  Usually it's an open public building, with a coffee shop and cafeteria open to the public.

The City sold this as event which will boost tourism & the economy.  But now there are news stories that some restaurants & clubs in the vicinity of the stadium have seen a drop in business of about 30% as people going to the game don't stop in and the rest of the population is avoiding the area due to fears of traffic congestion.   We have excellent transit & I use that almost exclusively to go in to work, and I haven't had any problems.  On one non-game day last week I did stay downtown after work & did dinner & then saw a movie at a theatre also a couple blocks from the stadium, like I often do.  So I guess I'm part of the 70% of normal business.

Sorry I know none of my comments are relevant to Broadway and NYC.  Just kind of ranting.

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[Nettik]

Is the World Cup affecting Broadway?#3

Posted: 6/22/26 at 8:37am

It will be an interesting week for grosses. I think it's having a major effect. While the games are at MetLife, many tourists are hanging out outside of the games in NYC. You can't miss them, they're decked out in their jerseys at all times. Meanwhile, a friend who was at Wicked yesterday texted to ask me if Father's Day was usually a quiet day on Broadway because she was at Wicked and apparently the mezzanine was sparse. 

[InTheBathroom1]

Is the World Cup affecting Broadway?#4

Posted: 6/22/26 at 9:05am

I actually think it's driving away people who regularly go to the theatre.  The amount of 40% off sale ads I've been seeing for shows is a bit concerning.  I think the World Cup crowd is more likely to see The Lion King and call it a day, which leaves more recent musicals in a precarious position.

[SteveSanders]

Is the World Cup affecting Broadway?#5

Posted: 6/22/26 at 9:12am

Events of this scale almost always produce a not totally predictable mix of winners and losers in terms of increases and decreases in foot traffic, rates, attendance, and revenues.  

[broadfan327]

Is the World Cup affecting Broadway?#6

Posted: 6/22/26 at 9:29am

It will have some effect.  I am not required to go into the office this week because of NJ Transit train service disruptions.

[BentleyB]

Is the World Cup affecting Broadway?#7

Posted: 6/22/26 at 9:51am

We were supposed to come to the city this week and cancelled our plans because of the World Cup.  Hotel’s were way over priced and were concerned about traffic in the city and getting to and from the airports.

[Theatrefan2]

Is the World Cup affecting Broadway?#8

Posted: 6/22/26 at 9:53am

I guess a similar comparison would be London in 2012.

During the London Olympics theatres didnt experience a big boom like some predicted, in fact many had lower than normal attendance while the Olympics were on. Some reported 20% + drop in audiences. The sports audience didnt cross over into the theatres.

Many Londoners avoided the city too by taking annual leave etc during this period. Non Olympic tourists aslo avoided London during this time because of the expected olympic crowds.

So it wouldn't surprise me if New York experiences something similar

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Is the World Cup affecting Broadway?#9

Posted: 6/22/26 at 10:40am

There may be more than a few people in BentleyB’s boat.

I think New Jerseyans are also avoiding the city, and shows have been providing traffic warnings for performance days that overlap with the Cup.

Anecdotally, I know a lot of New Yorkers who traveled last week or this week (3 day weekend thanks to Juneteenth) or will travel next week (4th of July) or the week after. New Yorkers gone + tourists who don’t love Broadway in is not a great combo.