Months of planning went into figuring out how to transport thousands of fans from the city to Boston Stadium in Foxborough.
By Darin Zullo
1 minute to read
For a city like Boston, transportation was always going to be one of the main stress points when hosting the World Cup.
The MBTA has long been preparing to figure out how to get thousands of fans to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, rebranded as Boston Stadium for the global soccer phenomenon. Special Commuter Rail services were added, and service changes were made citywide for match days.
Amid all the planning, city officials and locals still had their fair share of concerns. From expensive train tickets to even more expensive bus tickets to warnings for drivers to avoid the area, the city seemed to be holding its breath.
Yet after all those worries, Boston got off to a serviceable start. Though fans complained about packed trains, long lines, and high prices, they were left in good spirits overall.
“I was really shocked at how organized they were, and on time, and smooth,” Rosalvo Valcimond, a World Cup fan, told The Boston Globe. “All the fans, and all the different cultures all together in the same train — everyone was supportive and respectful.”
Neither Boston police nor Massachusetts State Police reported any arrests as of Saturday night, according to the Globe. The biggest disturbance was the sprawling lines outside South Station for fans waiting to board their Commuter Rail trains.
These lines were longer than expected and brought on by passengers arriving “well before their boarding time,” Jake O’Neill, a spokesperson for Commuter Rail operator Keolis, told the Globe. Still, the commute itself “proceeded as planned” and stayed organized.
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