What to know
- Toronto World Cup concession prices are drawing criticism online.
- Chicken tenders and fries cost $25.25 at Toronto Stadium compared with about $8.39 CAD in Atlanta.
- Fans questioned whether food prices at major sporting events have become excessive.
- Some supporters argued the prices are similar to what Toronto sports fans already pay at major venues.
- Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium uses a fan-first concession model that keeps food prices low.
A serving of chicken tenders and fries at Toronto Stadium costs $25.25.
The same meal at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium costs the equivalent of about $8.39 Canadian.
That price gap has become one of the hottest debates among World Cup fans after photos comparing concession menus from the two host cities began circulating online.
For many supporters, the comparison raised a simple question: Why does a trip to the concession stand cost so much more in Toronto?
‘I’m staying home’: Canadians react to food prices at FIFA World Cup games in Canada
Hundreds of people flocked to Reddit, X, and Instagram to lambast the prices World Cup fans had to pay at Toronto Stadium, which were double, if not three times that of Atlanta’s.
For example, in Toronto, a serving of chicken tenders and fries cost a whopping $25.25, chips cost $7, and french fries sell for $10.25.
In Atlanta, chicken tenders and fries only cost $6 ($8.39 CAD), chips are $3.50 ($4.89 CAD), and french fries sell for $3 ($4.19 CAD).
In Los Angeles’ Sofi Stadium and New York’s MetLife Stadium, food prices are also fairly steep. At Sofi, a burrito costs $19.25 ($26.92 CAD) and at MetLife, a four-piece chicken tenders and fries meal costs $15 ($20.97 CAD).
One X user commented, “2 hot dogs with 2 cans of pop for $57?! I’m staying home 😂” while another person criticized Rogers, writing “FIFA set those prices and pocket all the money. Rogers rented them the building to whatever they want.”
On Instagram, one user roasted the special hot dog “Visa Cardholder combo,” writing, “Am I missing something or is the “special Visa cardholder combo” the same $ as getting each item individually?”
Not everyone was surprised
On Reddit, users commenting under a similar post in r/CanadaSoccer shrugged their shoulders at the high food costs, writing, “Everyone up in arms over what’s basically regular pricing for an event at BMO field. The prices are always stupid.”
Why is Atlanta so much cheaper?
According to the New York Times, Arthur Blank is behind the cheap concession prices in Atlanta.
Blank, who owns Mercedes-Benz Stadium, sets food and beverage prices based on a “fan-first” model. By operating concessions in house, rather than offloading it to third-party vendors, Blank is able to keep concessions affordable. The article said the stadium has not raised food and drink prices for the World Cup.
In 2023, Mercedes-Benz Stadium posted a picture to X, captioning it, “This is $20 worth of food at MBS!” The photo shows a big bag of popcorn, a fountain drink, a soft pretzel, a slice of pizza, chicken tenders and fries, a hot dog, and a container of chips with cheese dip.
