So far, so great!
After speaking with more than a dozen civic leaders, the consensus has been unanimous. Atlanta has shined brightly during the past month of hosting the FIFA World Cup. That includes MARTA, Centennial Olympic Park and Fan Fest, the streets and sidewalks, the attractions and the people.
“It’s been a fun atmosphere,” said Tad Hutcheson, a senior executive at Delta Air Lines who lives downtown overlooking the park. “The city has really delivered. From having cops on every corner to the painted crosswalks, the city has paid attention to details. They’ve done a fantastic job.”
Hutcheson said the World Cup has brought great activity and business to downtown.
“The park has been electric,” he said. “I overlook the park and can see it every day.”
Carol Tomé, CEO of UPS, who is co-chairing Showcase Atlanta, texted her thoughts. “From my perspective, Atlanta Proud!”
William Pate, president and CEO of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, said when Atlanta was designated to be a World Cup city, the expectations were unrealistic. FIFA once said it would be like holding seven Super Bowls. Not exactly.
There also have been headwinds, such as the federal government restricting visas from several countries competing in Atlanta and the other U.S. host cities.
But, when all things are considered, Atlanta is pulling it off. The city will host one more World Cup game, the semifinal match between Argentina and England, on July 15.
“The city is absolutely hitting on all cylinders,” Pate said. “Atlanta has set the record for Fan Fest participation in the United States. We are going to do half a million folks in the park.”
Kevin DuVall, CEO of the Georgia World Congress Center, which manages Centennial Olympic Park, said Atlanta has received “positive feedback” from FIFA. The World Cup has also helped reintroduce Atlanta to the park and show what it can be.
Between June 13 and July 5, Atlanta has sold 442,000 hotel rooms, with 40 percent sold in just the last four weeks. That’s down 7 percent since last year, but the revenue per room is up 11 percent.
“When we originally got the World Cup, the expectations were really high that there would be wall-to-wall crowds for 34 days,” Pate said. “We did not get the international lift we were hoping for because of international visa issues for people who would have booked hotel rooms. We were expecting 20 percent of visitors from outside the United States, but it was only 8 percent.”
So, ACVB changed its marketing strategy, shifting from international sales to targeting expats of competing countries who now live in the United States.
During the past month, our city has felt more global as fans have come to support Spain, Cabo Verde, Czechia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Haiti, Uzbekistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, England, Argentina and Egypt in games played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. And of course, there have been countless watch parties and festivities held throughout the World Cup for matches taking place in other North American cities.
“It’s great to be back on the international stage,” Pate said. “One of the prevailing benefits of having the World Cup in the United States is reminding people internationally that we are a welcoming country. That’s been a great message. It’s helping change the narrative. It’s been an authentic message: you’re welcome here. And Atlanta is such a diverse city.”
Trevor Williams, managing editor of Global Atlanta, has been using the slogan “The World is Here.” Now he’s seeing that theme really come to life.
“On all accounts, Atlanta has done a great job hosting the World Cup,” Williams said. “We have really reinforced our relationships with Africa and the Caribbean communities, revealing how diverse Atlanta actually is.”
The city has worked closely with the consular corps and international representatives based in Atlanta. From anecdotal conversations, Williams said Atlanta is faring well, especially for people visiting downtown.
“International visitors want a transit and pedestrian-oriented downtown,” Williams said. “I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how everything has come together so seamlessly.
Shaneel Lalani, owner of Underground Atlanta, has attracted massive international audiences, holding festivals for both Argentina and Morocco. The Argentina festival brought 10,000 people to Underground.
Lalani, who immigrated from India in 1999, sat down for an interview on July 12 during the successful Peach Fest, which moved to Underground this year.
“We’re welcoming different countries and different cultures to Underground,” Lalani said, who credited his wife, Alyshah, who said: “You don’t have to buy a plane ticket to experience different cultures. The world is coming to us.”
For Lalani, it finally feels like this is downtown’s moment.
“Every developer is working on something big,” Lalani said of Centennial Yards, South Downtown as well as Underground. “Our hard work is paying off.”
When he bought Underground six years ago, it was only 5 percent leased. Now it is 60 percent leased – and it has become a popular spot for young people for concerts and entertainment. It had two million visitors last year.
Lalani described Peach Fest as an opportunity to attract new audiences to Underground, and he hopes people will come back. “This crowd would not normally come here,” Lalani said. “Underground has become a multicultural destination.”
A.J. Robinson, president and CEO of Downtown Atlanta, formerly Central Atlanta Progress, said the World Cup has been an opportunity to introduce and reintroduce people to the center city.
“For downtown, it couldn’t have been better,” Robinson said. “A lot of great improvements have been made. Everything looks better. We just need to maintain that standard.”
And everyone mentioned MARTA.
“MARTA has been unbelievable,” he said. “I haven’t heard one complaint.”
Robinson mentioned how the World Cup has helped lift all parts of downtown — Centennial Yards and Cosm, the CTR, State Farm Arena, South Downtown, Underground, Peachtree Center. The challenge will be to keep the momentum going.
“We’ve got to get more people living in the core,” Robinson said.
Also, the World Cup has shown how Atlanta can handle international crowds. “A lot of people don’t realize how international we are,” he said.
The Rotary Club of Atlanta had a soccer-focused program on July 13 with JT Batson, CEO of the Atlanta-based U.S. Soccer Federation and Bea Perez, a key executive at the Coca-Cola Co.
“The World Cup here in Atlanta has been incredible,” said Batson, who spoke about how soccer is growing in the United States. The Women’s World Cup will be held in the United States in 2031. Maybe Atlanta can have the final match, he teased.
Perez said the World Cup is projected to generate $1 billion in economic activity from the seven matches held in Atlanta.
“This is really a seminal moment for the city and downtown,” Pate said. “Coming off of the World Cup, we are going to see another big leap forward, particularly downtown. It’s on people’s radar.”
It’s been fun interacting with our international visitors during WC. Overwhelmingly positive experiences.
There is considerable room for improvement in how Centennial Olympic Park (FIFA Fan Fest) is setup and scheduled.
The entire park is fenced off and off—limits when Fanfest is closed. So about the only area with outdoor public restrooms and drinking fountains is inaccessible. And the setup closed the pedestrian and bike lanes for the duration along Baker street. Taking away these pieces of infrastructure for nearly 2 summer months could be avoided, especially on days Fan Fest is closed.
The people of Atlanta and our institutions have showed beautifully. What neither we nor any of the other US host cities could do was overcome the fear and anger so many foreigners feel for the US given the current federal campaign against immigrants and persons of color more generally. The statistics of 8 rather than 20 percent foreign visitors is telling.
We also should be realistic that, while there is good movement to make downtown more pedestrian friendly, we have a long way to go. MB Stadium is a good hike away from hotels and what anyone would call a pedestrian-friendly zone. So much of Downtown is lined by sterile street walls, and streets that are empty after dark. We have identified the problems; now need the fortitude to fix them.
‘Underground Atlanta has become a popular spot for young people for concerts and entertainment.’ Media talks bout culture but Underground for years has and will continue to be taxpayer-funded ghetto daycare
Journalists PLEASE verify comically outlandish claims of economic impact, especially from soda company executives who have no clue, no evidence, no authority. $1B is a ridiculous claim.