Soccer fans frustrated by limited public transportation can look forward to a new travel option from Uber. The company is introducing shared shuttle services for fans returning from stadiums in World Cup host cities like Boston, Dallas, Miami, and New York.
Uber’s service will involve 50-seat vans taking fans back from venues. The cost will be $49 from New Jersey to Manhattan, while other city routes will be $45. Notably, in Miami, Uber offers shuttles to and from matches.
The cost of travel has been a concern for fans. Travelers face a $98 train trip for the 17-mile round trip from Manhattan to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where no one-way tickets are available.
The official shuttle service between Manhattan and MetLife has been reduced to $20 round-trip after public dissatisfaction. Governor Kathy Hochul intervened, employing yellow school buses for the route.
Boston fans will pay $80 for round-trip train rides to Gillette Stadium from downtown Boston. AT&T Stadium, near Dallas, has no direct train access. In Miami, traveling to Hard Rock Stadium via train and bus costs about $20, though stadium parking prices start at $175.
Uber also plans to launch ‘Uber Max’, a separate service using 14-seat vans, in cities like Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco. Detailed pricing remains unavailable, but prices will likely be higher than Uber XL, according to Uber’s spokesman Richard Foord.
Andrew Macdonald, Uber’s president and COO, explained that the company aims to provide reliable, affordable transportation that complements public transit. ‘We are expanding lower-cost options through shared shuttles and group rides,’ he stated.
Uber shuttles can be booked a few days prior to matches, with some reserved for day-of booking. Drop-off locations are still being finalized, but passengers will receive advance information.