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Trying to figure out how to get to the World Cup Norway vs. Senegal Group I match at MetLife Stadium on June 22?
New York and New Jersey's World Cup planners are tweaking the various modes and routes based on the two matches that have taken place at MetLife Stadium so far, but the transportation dynamic of each match will vary based on the time of day, other events going on in the region, and whether it's a weekday or weekend.
Monday's June 22 match starts at 8 p.m., which means fans will be traveling to the stadium in the middle of the PM rush-hour.
No matter what mode of transit you choose to get to the stadium, give yourself extra time and expect to walk a lot.
Story continues below photo gallery
Here’s what to know if you’re considering whether to take World Cup host committee bus shuttles, NJ Transit or rideshare.
More than 16,000 people opted for the $20 shuttles of school buses and charter buses to the World Cup for the initial match at the stadium on Saturday, June 13, just about 2,000 shy of that day's cap. But on Tuesday, June 16 they transported only 12,000 — and tickets were already sold out by noon the day prior.
How it went: Lines wrapped around three Manhattan blocks more than three hours before Saturday’s 6 p.m. kickoff at the pick-up location east of Grand Central Terminal.
And cars lined up to park for at least a mile at the Nutley, New Jersey pickup location, according to NJ.com. Traffic was a problem for buses getting into Manhattan (except 42nd Street, which was blocked off to local traffic) and arriving at or leaving the stadium.
When matches ended, lines for the shuttle quickly swelled and it took about two-and-a-half hours to clear the queues.
What will be different: Because the Norway vs. Senegal match falls on a Monday, there will be 12,000 shuttle bus tickets available — and they will likely sell out in advance. There will be multiple midtown Manhattan streets closures, including 42nd Street, to ease congestion for the route out of Manhattan to the MetLife Stadium, which has been renamed New York New Jersey Stadium for the duration of the World Cup.
In addition to the Grand Central pickup and drop off location at 42nd Street and Second Avenue, the shuttle buses stop in Manhattan at Columbus Circle and Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Buses returning to Manhattan from the stadium will likely be going into the city after 10 p.m., so traffic should be light.
Tips to consider:
NJ Transit transported just over 21,000 fans to and from the first match in New Jersey and more than 26,000 after the end of the second match, below their 40,000-person capacity per match.
Organizers are advising people to take advantage of NJ Transit.
“For fans who have not yet finalized their travel plans, NJ Transit remains the fastest way to get to and from New York New Jersey Stadium,” said Alex Lasry, CEO of the region’s host committee.
How it went: Those who sprung for the $98 NJ Transit ticket by and large have had smooth trips, especially because NJ Transit hasn’t max out on passengers. Some riders experienced confusion about where to go and where to line up and weren’t aware of the Secaucus transfer. For those directed to a stadium-bound bus at Secaucus, there were some slow-downs on the route before the first match. There was also brief bottle-necking after the match to get on to New York-bound trains from Secaucus and leave the bus area to get into Secaucus station, but very little actual queuing for those leaving the stadium on NJ Transit trains and buses.
What will be different: Some expect NJ Transit's ridership to grow with every match as word gets out about long lines and waits at other modes. NJ Transit transported 5,000 more people to the second match compared to the first, but even still the lines moved quickly after the match both nights.
Tips to consider:
Keep in mind: Even Uber is advising people to use rideshare as a last resort.
How it went: People arriving at the stadium or even American Dream by rideshare hours in advance had good experiences and paid normal rates for the ride. But the experience leaving was not great, with confusion about where to go and how to find rides, exorbitant pricing, and long waits for pick-ups. People were seen walking along Route 3 trying to meet up rides after the first match. Others were stranded waiting for pick-ups past midnight, according to NJ.com.
There are 4,700 parking spots available for at least $225 at American Dream per match. Those who arrived early on Saturday had a smooth experience but endured traffic on the way out.
What will be different: If more people take NJ Transit, that could help ease the problems on the rideshare lot and roads in general. Even still, expect long waits and expensive rides after the match. Because this match will end around 10 p.m., there should be not be as much congestion during the exit.
Tips to consider:
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Here are our World Cup transit tips for Norway vs. Senegal match in NJ
Continue reading...
New York and New Jersey's World Cup planners are tweaking the various modes and routes based on the two matches that have taken place at MetLife Stadium so far, but the transportation dynamic of each match will vary based on the time of day, other events going on in the region, and whether it's a weekday or weekend.
Monday's June 22 match starts at 8 p.m., which means fans will be traveling to the stadium in the middle of the PM rush-hour.
No matter what mode of transit you choose to get to the stadium, give yourself extra time and expect to walk a lot.
Story continues below photo gallery
Here’s what to know if you’re considering whether to take World Cup host committee bus shuttles, NJ Transit or rideshare.
Host committee bus shuttles
More than 16,000 people opted for the $20 shuttles of school buses and charter buses to the World Cup for the initial match at the stadium on Saturday, June 13, just about 2,000 shy of that day's cap. But on Tuesday, June 16 they transported only 12,000 — and tickets were already sold out by noon the day prior.
How it went: Lines wrapped around three Manhattan blocks more than three hours before Saturday’s 6 p.m. kickoff at the pick-up location east of Grand Central Terminal.
And cars lined up to park for at least a mile at the Nutley, New Jersey pickup location, according to NJ.com. Traffic was a problem for buses getting into Manhattan (except 42nd Street, which was blocked off to local traffic) and arriving at or leaving the stadium.
When matches ended, lines for the shuttle quickly swelled and it took about two-and-a-half hours to clear the queues.
What will be different: Because the Norway vs. Senegal match falls on a Monday, there will be 12,000 shuttle bus tickets available — and they will likely sell out in advance. There will be multiple midtown Manhattan streets closures, including 42nd Street, to ease congestion for the route out of Manhattan to the MetLife Stadium, which has been renamed New York New Jersey Stadium for the duration of the World Cup.
In addition to the Grand Central pickup and drop off location at 42nd Street and Second Avenue, the shuttle buses stop in Manhattan at Columbus Circle and Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Buses returning to Manhattan from the stadium will likely be going into the city after 10 p.m., so traffic should be light.
Tips to consider:
- Get there early! That can’t be emphasized enough, no matter what mode of transit you choose. And expect long lines after the match ends. The process of loading school buses and charter buses is time-consuming when doing so en masse, especially compared to articulated buses that have multiple doors and open gangways, which NJ Transit is using on its shuttle system.
- If you didn't take the shuttle to the match but decide to take it home, you can buy a wristband after the match at Lot K, where the host committee shuttle buses are operating at the stadium.
- If you took the shuttle to the match but want to take NJ Transit to get home, you will have a 15- to 20-minute walk from Lot K to NJ Transit’s train and bus area on the American Dream mall side of the stadium.
- Fans are encouraged to hang out after the match at the Fan Zone in the stadium or American Dream to wait for lines to shrink.
- Be sure to use the bathroom before getting in the shuttle bus line after leaving the stadium. There are port-a-potties set up near the top of the shuttle bus line for those exiting the arena.
NJ Transit
NJ Transit transported just over 21,000 fans to and from the first match in New Jersey and more than 26,000 after the end of the second match, below their 40,000-person capacity per match.
Organizers are advising people to take advantage of NJ Transit.
“For fans who have not yet finalized their travel plans, NJ Transit remains the fastest way to get to and from New York New Jersey Stadium,” said Alex Lasry, CEO of the region’s host committee.
How it went: Those who sprung for the $98 NJ Transit ticket by and large have had smooth trips, especially because NJ Transit hasn’t max out on passengers. Some riders experienced confusion about where to go and where to line up and weren’t aware of the Secaucus transfer. For those directed to a stadium-bound bus at Secaucus, there were some slow-downs on the route before the first match. There was also brief bottle-necking after the match to get on to New York-bound trains from Secaucus and leave the bus area to get into Secaucus station, but very little actual queuing for those leaving the stadium on NJ Transit trains and buses.
What will be different: Some expect NJ Transit's ridership to grow with every match as word gets out about long lines and waits at other modes. NJ Transit transported 5,000 more people to the second match compared to the first, but even still the lines moved quickly after the match both nights.
Tips to consider:
- For those in the back: Get there early!
- When going to the match, many people were unaware that NJ Transit’s line to Penn Station’s entrance on Seventh Avenue started on 32nd Street and Sixth Avenue; from the other side, the entrance is Eighth Avenue and 33rd Street.
- The trip between New York Penn Station and Secaucus is about 10 minutes, but be sure to account for the extra time it will take to fill the train.
- When transferring at Secaucus, keep in mind it will take five to 10 minutes to transfer to the next train or bus that goes to the stadium, and it will take several more minutes to load passengers. The journey between Secaucus and the stadium is around 15 minutes, but could vary depending on traffic conditions. Even NJ Transit must sometimes compete with train traffic because the agency shares the stretch of track between Manhattan and Secaucus with Amtrak.
- For those staying near Hoboken, the best kept secret is to take the train from there because this is the only route that likely won’t require a transfer at Secaucus. Most Hoboken-originating trains go to the stadium directly after picking up passengers in Secaucus.
- If you decide to take NJ Transit home after the match and you didn’t take it there, NJ Transit is selling tickets for the wristbands required to ride, but they are for the full $98.
- If there are lines after the match ends, consider hanging out in the stadium’s Fan Zone or going to American Dream. NJ Transit’s last train will leave about three hours after the match ends.
- World Cup-goers using the Main, Bergen and Pascack Valley trains to get to matches cannot get off at Secaucus because those lines are bypassing that station. Instead, those riders must take those trains to Hoboken and switch there to stadium-bound trains.
Rideshare and driving
Keep in mind: Even Uber is advising people to use rideshare as a last resort.
How it went: People arriving at the stadium or even American Dream by rideshare hours in advance had good experiences and paid normal rates for the ride. But the experience leaving was not great, with confusion about where to go and how to find rides, exorbitant pricing, and long waits for pick-ups. People were seen walking along Route 3 trying to meet up rides after the first match. Others were stranded waiting for pick-ups past midnight, according to NJ.com.
There are 4,700 parking spots available for at least $225 at American Dream per match. Those who arrived early on Saturday had a smooth experience but endured traffic on the way out.
What will be different: If more people take NJ Transit, that could help ease the problems on the rideshare lot and roads in general. Even still, expect long waits and expensive rides after the match. Because this match will end around 10 p.m., there should be not be as much congestion during the exit.
Tips to consider:
- If you stayed at a hotel in the vicinity of the stadium, before considering rideshare, consult with hotel staff about whether they have a shuttle to the match via the American Dream mall lots.
- Consider booking Uber vans or other private shuttles that are operating at American Dream’s lots.
- If you’re in New Jersey and not near a NJ Transit train station, consider getting to the host committee’s shuttle bus park-and-ride at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine in Nutley.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Here are our World Cup transit tips for Norway vs. Senegal match in NJ
Continue reading...
