Across the city, hotels and event organizers are preparing to host thousands of visitors for the FIFA World Cup Tournament. Atlanta soccer lovers, rocking their countries’ jerseys and colors, will have ample opportunities to watch the tournament.
A fan festival at Centennial Olympic Park is extending to 18 days during the tournament.
“FIFA FanFest will be capped at 15,000 people a day. That number will be on a rolling basis,” said Joe Bocherer, chief commercial officer for the Georgia World Congress Center.
The first match in Atlanta is on June 15. The Fan Fest will use a 50-foot jumbotron screen to broadcast matches. Food and entertainment options will change daily.
“You must register to enter the park, and all that information will be on our website,” said Bocherer.
Piedmont Park will host a free event to watch the championship match on July 19, featuring food, vendors and music.
“Our local vendors will be highlighted there for the finals watch party,” said Lamar Stewart, interim executive director of Showcase Atlanta, an economic leadership initiative by the City of Atlanta.
Estimates show that the city is projected to see a $1 billion economic impact. Showcase Atlanta says it has set up more than 200 vending opportunities at the different festivals around the tournament.
“We want to make sure our small businesses are engaged, and kind of know that there is a litany of engagements they all have moving forward,” said Stewart.
Georgia’s hospitality industry is also gearing up for a surge of visitors.
Dan Corso, the president of the Atlanta Sports Council, says over 200,000 hotel room nights are already booked for the World Cup.
“There is availability… but it is decreasing each week as we get closer to the tournament,” said Corso.
Bocherer says Atlanta hotels are averaging about 10,000 rooms picked up a week.
