Atlanta set for major economic boost as England World Cup fans spend
Atlanta is set to enjoy a major economic boost from England fans at the World Cup after Brits splashed the cash in Miami last week.
Spending data from Revolut shows that UK customer spending in Miami was up 322 per cent on Saturday, when England beat Norway 2-1 to book a spot in tonight’s semi-final against Argentina, compared to the previous week.
People aged 45-54 produced the biggest increase, with their spending up more than 900 per cent, while older millennials generated a 600 per cent bump.
England fans are spending thousands of dollars to follow the Three Lions across the United States and Mexico as the national team hunts a first World Cup since 1966.
Tickets for tonight’s match against Lionel Messi’s Argentina are going for upwards of $2,700, while some seats for Sunday’s final are being flogged for $11m by ambitious resellers.
England fans will be familiar with the Atlanta Stadium – usually the Mercedes-Benz Stadium – having seen the Three Lions beat DR Congo 2-1 there in the round of 32.
Atlanta spend, spend, spend
It comes as one in 10 Brits are considering a last-minute dash to the US to soak in the final few matches of the World Cup – with England guaranteed a game at the weekend in either the final or third-place play-off – according to data from Chase.
Gen Z say they are 25 times more likely to travel than baby boomers, while each fan is budgeting an average of £4,000 for their trip, the survey shows.
Chase’s Chaun Port said that “people told us they’d stretch by an average of £1,519 to be there and back the Three Lions”.
The spending is also set to produce a windfall for pubs and beer companies, with AJ Bell and the London Stock Exchange Group reporting that the market value of a number of big-hitters has jumped since the Miami quarter-final.
Domestically, Wetherspoon and Young’s have seen double digit percentage growth in their market value, while global brands Carlsberg, Heineken and Diageo have seen healthy single-digit hikes.
“The timing of the England versus Argentina semi-final is particularly important as it is being screened at more sociable hours than some of the tournament’s previous big ties,” Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, said.
“In theory, that should convince more people to watch the match in the pub rather than at home.”