This is a bucket list item for many fans, especially from nations passionate about their national team. A fair analogy might be super bowl tickets when your team is playing or the Masters Golf Tournament (I own series badges for this), and people will pay comparable amounts for these tickets.
An excerpt from a WSJ article, “ This is a country (Argentina) where adoration of the national team is so fervent that many fans build their financial planning around the World Cup, taking out loans to buy tickets every four years. It’s also the country with the most psychologists per capita in the world. These facts are perhaps not unrelated.”
Dick, As I have written before, a few months after I inherited money from my parents I considered buying tickets for my son and I to go to the Patriots Super Bowl in Atlanta. The estimated total cost of the three day trip would have cost me between 20-30K, but since I had already spent a fair amount I balked at spending the money. I had even secretly called his boss (who was English and didn’t even know what the Super Bowl is) to confirm he could get the time off.
What did we miss out on? Only the last Super Bowl title with Tom Brady.
I have regretted not going ever since. Just think of the memories.
I went to five World Cup games at Stanford when the tournament was last in the US in 1994. I was near broke and somewhat underemployed at the time, but I never even considered not going. It was worth every dollar, and no regrets.
This time around, despite being far better off financially, I barely considered it. Several games were played only a ferryboat ride away, but having been there and done that and not wanting to pay massive ticket prices, I waved it off and parked in front of the TV for every match. No regrets this time either.
Oh I definitely would. People spend that on Safaris and other life experiences all the time. The pinnacle of interracting with fellow humans… And it may be one game… but Lord knows it could be the longest 90+ minutes of your life! If it’s your jam and of course, you can afford it… God Bless!
Totally agree. I’m not a soccer fan so wouldn’t spend on the World Cup, but if there were an activity I were truly interested in, I’d definitely do it. Also think of all the money that dribbles out on cigarettes, alcohol, and cannabis. I think a big splurge spend is better than any of that.
No chance here. I’d rather watch any sporting event at home on an 85″ screen than pay those prices. I’d also prefer not to buy anything through Ticketmaster ever again.
The World Cup is one of the few events that transcends politics, borders, and our everyday disagreements. For a few weeks, billions of people laugh, groan, celebrate, and mourn together.
I was lucky enough to attend one match, and it’s a memory I’ll always treasure.
My daughter and her family flew to Philly a few weeks ago to attend a game. Their experience with international fans echoed your comment perfectly. Though the tickets were not crazy expensive, their cost, along with round trip airfare for five, a hotel, and Uber for several days, wasn’t cheap. It is an experience that the family will never forget.
I’m sure you are right, but spending that much seems excessive.
I can just see those same folks complaining loudly they have to pay a $2,000 deductible on their health insurance… that is unaffordable, it should be “free.”
But then again some people will think that what you spent recently on a new Mercedes was excessive. Some will say you should pay as little as possible for a car because their only purpose is to get you from point A to point B as cost effectively as possible. As my father (a self designated genius- he was really smart though) used to say everyone has their spending priorities.
I can see it if you can afford it. Spouse and I have already spent more than that on tickets to the LA Olympics that will be held in 2028. They are having another lottery soon and we will buy more if we are chosen. I fully expect our trip will be a lot of $$ when all is said and done. But it is the Olympics. It is a bucket list item. Chris
Chris, The summer after I graduated from high school, I and a couple of my friends drove from NH to Montreal for a weekend for the Olympics, the aura was amazing. We slept off the island in a gravel parking lot, got to watch a preliminary boxing match and met Sugar Ray Leonard a gold metal boxer from the USA. You could do that in the olden days.
Yeah, I get that. I have wanted to go all my life and Spouse is agreeable. We are going to try to be easy going about it and go to one event per day and not staying the whole 2 weeks. I never thought we would be able to go in a million years. Very grateful. Chris
It’s not on any spreadsheet, but, I’d definitely consider spending that to watch Ireland in the final. Unfortunately I’m never going to need to make the choice 😊
People who choose cars wisely and maintain and keep them for 20 years and 200,000 miles or far more can splurge on all kinds of things just from those savings alone. It’s all up to personal preference on what is or is not deemed “excessive” for any given category of expenditure.
This is a bucket list item for many fans, especially from nations passionate about their national team. A fair analogy might be super bowl tickets when your team is playing or the Masters Golf Tournament (I own series badges for this), and people will pay comparable amounts for these tickets.
An excerpt from a WSJ article, “ This is a country (Argentina) where adoration of the national team is so fervent that many fans build their financial planning around the World Cup, taking out loans to buy tickets every four years. It’s also the country with the most psychologists per capita in the world. These facts are perhaps not unrelated.”
Just spent $1200 on tickets to the Final Four in April for nosebleed seats, well worth it and would do it again!
And to think I was complaining about a $9 net for my grandson’s hoop 😉
Mark, Mark, Mark; just think you’ll never have to pay for a bridal gown for him.
I sincerely hope not David 😂
Dick,
As I have written before, a few months after I inherited money from my parents I considered buying tickets for my son and I to go to the Patriots Super Bowl in Atlanta. The estimated total cost of the three day trip would have cost me between 20-30K, but since I had already spent a fair amount I balked at spending the money. I had even secretly called his boss (who was English and didn’t even know what the Super Bowl is) to confirm he could get the time off.
What did we miss out on? Only the last Super Bowl title with Tom Brady.
I have regretted not going ever since. Just think of the memories.
What price can you put on memories?
I went to five World Cup games at Stanford when the tournament was last in the US in 1994. I was near broke and somewhat underemployed at the time, but I never even considered not going. It was worth every dollar, and no regrets.
This time around, despite being far better off financially, I barely considered it. Several games were played only a ferryboat ride away, but having been there and done that and not wanting to pay massive ticket prices, I waved it off and parked in front of the TV for every match. No regrets this time either.
Oh I definitely would. People spend that on Safaris and other life experiences all the time. The pinnacle of interracting with fellow humans… And it may be one game… but Lord knows it could be the longest 90+ minutes of your life! If it’s your jam and of course, you can afford it… God Bless!
Blow That Dough (BTD)…we all have our priorities and splurge items if we can afford them. Who’s to judge others choices of what to blow it on?
Totally agree. I’m not a soccer fan so wouldn’t spend on the World Cup, but if there were an activity I were truly interested in, I’d definitely do it. Also think of all the money that dribbles out on cigarettes, alcohol, and cannabis. I think a big splurge spend is better than any of that.
The key is “if we can afford them.”
No chance here. I’d rather watch any sporting event at home on an 85″ screen than pay those prices. I’d also prefer not to buy anything through Ticketmaster ever again.
Oh, you mean the Ticketmaster that was recently severely punished by the government for being a monopoly? 🤔
Just to confuse our American cohort even further, I’ve been more interested in the Women’s Cricket T20 World Cup than the FIFA extravaganza.
Go Australia!
The World Cup is one of the few events that transcends politics, borders, and our everyday disagreements. For a few weeks, billions of people laugh, groan, celebrate, and mourn together.
I was lucky enough to attend one match, and it’s a memory I’ll always treasure.
My daughter and her family flew to Philly a few weeks ago to attend a game. Their experience with international fans echoed your comment perfectly. Though the tickets were not crazy expensive, their cost, along with round trip airfare for five, a hotel, and Uber for several days, wasn’t cheap. It is an experience that the family will never forget.
I’m sure you are right, but spending that much seems excessive.
I can just see those same folks complaining loudly they have to pay a $2,000 deductible on their health insurance… that is unaffordable, it should be “free.”
But then again some people will think that what you spent recently on a new Mercedes was excessive. Some will say you should pay as little as possible for a car because their only purpose is to get you from point A to point B as cost effectively as possible. As my father (a self designated genius- he was really smart though) used to say everyone has their spending priorities.
I can see it if you can afford it. Spouse and I have already spent more than that on tickets to the LA Olympics that will be held in 2028. They are having another lottery soon and we will buy more if we are chosen. I fully expect our trip will be a lot of $$ when all is said and done. But it is the Olympics. It is a bucket list item. Chris
Chris,
The summer after I graduated from high school, I and a couple of my friends drove from NH to Montreal for a weekend for the Olympics, the aura was amazing. We slept off the island in a gravel parking lot, got to watch a preliminary boxing match and met Sugar Ray Leonard a gold metal boxer from the USA. You could do that in the olden days.
Oh wow, David, Sugar Ray Leonard! Of course I remember him. How fun! C
I guess there are a lot of people with buckets to fill. Hope you win the lottery.
I have an aversion to crowds and lines. I wouldn’t go if it was free.
Yeah, I get that. I have wanted to go all my life and Spouse is agreeable. We are going to try to be easy going about it and go to one event per day and not staying the whole 2 weeks. I never thought we would be able to go in a million years. Very grateful. Chris
It’s not on any spreadsheet, but, I’d definitely consider spending that to watch Ireland in the final. Unfortunately I’m never going to need to make the choice 😊
Really? The person who agonizes over a car would do that? Many tickets are $10,000 + 🤑
People who choose cars wisely and maintain and keep them for 20 years and 200,000 miles or far more can splurge on all kinds of things just from those savings alone.
It’s all up to personal preference on what is or is not deemed “excessive” for any given category of expenditure.
Really, I would. But it’s a fantasy that’s never going to occur 😕