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World Cup fans to pay train fares of $150 for the round-trip to MetLife Stadium — when it usually costs $12.90

by with No Comment Xpandfy

Soccer fans heading to FIFA World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium this summer may face a transportation bill nearly as expensive as the ticket prices.

New Jersey Transit officials announced Friday in a press release that round-trip train tickets from Manhattan’s Penn Station to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will cost $150 per person for World Cup match days. It usually costs $12.90 to make the 9-mile trip from Manhattan’s Penn Station to the stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Officials also said in their press release that the stadium bus shuttle services will cost $80 per round-trip.

The stadium, which will host eight matches, including the July 19 final, is expected to draw more than 78,000 fans per game who will largely rely on public transit because most on-site parking will be unavailable. According to NJ Transit officials, however, only 40,000 train tickets will be sold per match day at the new price point, and they must be purchased in advance.

“This isn’t price gouging,” NJ Transit president and CEO Kris Kolluri said on Friday during a press briefing. “We’re literally trying to recoup our costs.”

The steep fare hike has sparked backlash from state leaders on both sides of the Hudson. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said the state was left with a massive transportation bill after FIFA failed to contribute transit funding.

“We have inherited an agreement in which FIFA doesn’t contribute a single dollar toward transportation for the World Cup. And while NJ Transit is left with a $48 million bill to safely transport 40,000 fans from the stadium to wherever they’re headed, FIFA is generating $11 billion from this World Cup,” Sherrill wrote on X.

“I won’t stick N.J. commuters with that tab for years to come, that’s not fair,” Sherrill added. “FIFA should pay for the rides, but if they don’t, I’m not going to let N.J. commuters be taken for one.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, however, said on X earlier this week that “charging over $100 for a short train ride sounds awfully high” to her.

FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.




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Aditi Bharade

The two giants of the blind box world are joining forces

by with No Comment Xpandfy

The two big leagues in the toy world are joining forces: Pop Mart’s iconic Labubu doll is getting a Sanrio makeover.

The collection features Labubus dressed as popular Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, Kuromi, My Melody, and more.

The small 7-inch Labubu keychains in the collection are priced at $39.99 and sold in blind boxes, which conceal the exact character inside, making the purchase feel like a gamble.

The collection also includes 15-inch plush dolls priced at $149.90.

The collection will go live on Pop Mart’s online store on Thursday at 10 p.m. E.T. It will be available in stores in April, Pop Mart said in the press release.

“Both LABUBU and Sanrio have passionate fanbases, and this partnership engages collectors and fans alike, blending timeless Sanrio appeal with the playful mischief that has made LABUBU a global icon,” said Emily Brough, Pop Mart Americas’ head of licensing, in the press release.

This is not the first time Pop Mart, a Chinese toymaker, has pulled off a flashy collaboration. It’s partnered with brands like Uniqlo, Coca-Cola, and the anime One Piece.

Shunsuke Kuriyama, a Jefferies analyst who analyzes Sanrio, said the collaboration could be effective in “pooling fans from both sides,” and could “introduce one group to another brand IP, potentially leading to a win-win scenario.”

“Both brands are seeing solid demand from ‘kidults,’ so this collab could drive demand from both groups of fans,” Kuriyama added. “Kidults” is a term for adult collectors of toys who buy them for nostalgia or as emotional support objects.

Per its latest earnings report in September, The Monsters IP — which Labubu is part of — earned a half-year revenue of $700 million USD, accounting for nearly half of the company’s IP sales.

Historically, Labubu launches have drawn huge crowds to Pop Marts around the world. The company has shifted product launches online, but new launches still draw large crowds to physical stores.

In August, when Pop Mart launched its mini Labubu series, the dolls were sold out instantly, and customers flooded its stores in Singapore hoping to get their hands on them.




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