'Boring' Bay Area fixtures confound critics with stellar attendances

SANTA CLARA, California — In a region boasting vast tech wealth and global corporate influence, the San Francisco Bay Area's humble World Cup schedule landed with a dull thud, raising groans from fans over its lack of marquee matches.

While Kansas City welcomed Argentina and Boston hosted England, Bay Area locals subsisted on a more niche set of nations, with world No 16 Switzerland the highest-ranked visitor in five matches to date.

For Arab soccer enthusiasts, it has been a bonanza, with Qatar, Algeria and Jordan (twice) all gracing the home of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers.

With fans on social media ranking it the least glamorous fixture list of all the United States' 11 host cities, a paucity of nightlife near the stadium in sleepy Santa Clara and little buzz before the tournament, there were fears of a Bay Area bust.

"The World Cup was supposed to be a Bay Area bonanza. Why does it feel like a flop?" San Francisco Chronicle asked days before the tournament.

The narrative has shifted about 180 degrees since, with crowds having flocked to the area's matches.

"I follow European football, so, for sure, I was disappointed, I would have liked more balance in the teams we got here, for my own self-interest," James Fay, a recently retired CFO of a tech company, told reporters at last Thursday's Group J match between Australia and Paraguay.

"But, having a World Cup here is fantastic, there was no way I was going to miss it. I didn't get to go in'94, it's my first World Cup, so I'm coming, no matter what."

Diverse fandom

Fay was among a crowd of 68,827, a few hundred below the tournament's maximum capacity of 69,391. The lowest attendance reported by organizers was 67,966 for the first match between Switzerland and Qatar.

At each game, neutral fans have turned up in force.

Huge cheers from Americans at Thursday's match rang out when the scoreboard gave an update on the concurrent Group J match being played out between the US and Turkiye in Los Angeles.

Mexico fans from San Jose and other big Latino communities in the south of the Bay Area have been enthusiastic attendees, particularly for Paraguay's two group matches.

"It has been amazing to see the diversity and international fandom that has come into the Bay and participated in fan marches, attended games, and experienced everything we have to offer," the Bay Area Host Committee (BAHC) said in a statement.

Bay Area resident Nick Zhang went with two friends to Thursday's game and paid $330 for a nosebleed seat in the full glare of the afternoon sun.

"Well, there was a game on and we just wanted the experience. We're way up high, but we can still get a taste of it," he said.

Once disparaged for its "boring" schedule, the Bay Area is now having the last laugh, as it prepares to welcome the US on Wednesday for its round-of-32 clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ticket prices have spiked on reselling platforms, with the cheapest on StubHub being offered for $2,000.

Away from the stadium, organizers are preparing for a huge party at the main fan zone at San Pedro Square in San Jose, putting up a fourth giant screen for the Bay Area's World Cup swan song.

More than 350,000 people have visited the square since the World Cup started, according to BAHC.

"There's been some left-field teams coming to town, but the US will be a good finish to the party," James Martinez, a local student, said.

REUTERS