The Dallas/Arlington KOA Holiday campground, located a few kilometers from Dallas Stadium in Arlington, has seen near-full occupancy on major match days. Instead of booking hotel rooms, supporters from Argentina, Germany, and England are residing in campers, utilizing folding chairs and shared grilling areas. The campground offers camper rentals with amenities, or guests can bring their own vehicles and rent a parking spot.

Nona Gomez, the campground manager, reported that almost all 159 parking spots were rented during key matches. Before the Argentina - Austria game, only 24 spots remained, with many unreserved guests still inquiring about rentals. Santiago Meneses, an Argentina fan, along with five friends, chose to travel in a camper to follow the tournament. He explained their decision was due to the sharp increase in ticket and accommodation prices. "Costs at previous World Cups were only half of what they are now. We chose this way to save money and gain more experience", Meneses said.

Each camper parking spot at the Dallas/Arlington KOA Holiday costs approximately 57-76 USD per person per night. In contrast, hotel room prices around Arlington can reach hundreds of USD on match days. Staying close to the stadium also helps fans avoid expensive taxi fares after games.

English fans at Normandy Farms campground in Foxboro, Massachusetts. *Photo: CBS*

Beyond financial savings, the campground fosters an ideal environment for fans from various nations to connect. They share meals, discuss itineraries, and grill food late into the night before heading to the stadium. Leroy Behrens, a German fan traveling in the southern US with his father, shared that this experience allowed them to meet more people than they would have in a hotel. "We got to interact with many cultures, meeting friendly people from the US and around the world", he stated.

However, staying in a camper comes with several drawbacks. Shared restrooms are often crowded during peak hours, and the vehicle's interior space is cramped. Behrens noted that three people sharing one camper in Texas's hot weather was not a comfortable experience. Despite this, both Behrens and Meneses expressed no regrets. "We couldn't miss Messi's last World Cup, no matter the cost", Meneses affirmed.

Argentina fans at the match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas, Missouri, on 16/6. *Photo: AP*

For Behrens, the rising tournament costs highlight a growing concern: football is becoming less accessible to average fans. "Football is for the fans, not just for the wealthy. It's hard to accept that many people cannot attend matches simply because the costs are too high", he remarked.

Costs at this year's World Cup have become a significant issue for many supporters. Official ticket prices for a group stage match were initially set at 575 USD for the highest category, more than double the 220 USD at the 2022 World Cup. FIFA implemented a flexible pricing mechanism, allowing prices to fluctuate based on demand. This resulted in many resale tickets exceeding 1,000 USD, with the average price for upcoming matches reaching approximately 1,600 USD for the lowest category at one point.

Hotel prices also surged in many US host cities. A hotel near MetLife Stadium in New Jersey increased its rates from about 200 USD to 800 USD per night on match days. Room rates before the final exceeded 1,300 USD. Some accommodations near stadiums listed even higher prices. World of Blue Hotel quoted approximately 2,300 USD for the night of the final, roughly seven times the price a month later. SpringHill Suites also raised room rates from about 300 USD to 5,300 USD per night during the week of the final match.

Argentina national team fans gathered at a camper parking lot in Arlington, Texas, on 24/6. *Photo: Reuters*

However, these high prices did not guarantee full hotel occupancy. At World of Blue, booking rates during group stage matches only reached about 8-30%. For the final stage booking schedule, only about 4% of rooms were reserved. Some budget hotels had to lower prices due to lower-than-expected demand.

The expensive ticket and accommodation costs are compelling many fans to adjust their World Cup viewing strategies. For Meneses and his friends, staying in a camper allows them to continue their journey without paying hundreds of USD per night for a hotel.

Ha Linh (According to Reuters, AP)