Long Beach Transit helped move more than 7,400 customers from the city’s downtown to the eight World Cup matches that took place at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium — rebranded as Los Angeles Stadium for the tournament — from June 12 to Friday, July 10, the agency announced this week.
The direct, nonstop bus trips were part of L.A. Metro’s “Enhanced World Cup Service,” a coordinated regional effort among various Southern California transit agencies, Long Beach Transit said in a Monday, July 13, press release.
Long Beach Transit operated 193 bus trips, transporting an average of 935 customers per match, the press release said. The single-match record was 1,158 customers on June 25, when the United States men’s national team took on Turkey in their final group stage match.
“Long Beach Transit proudly connected our community to one of the world’s largest sporting events,” LBT President and CEO Kenneth A. McDonald said in the press release. “It was an opportunity to demonstrate the professionalism, teamwork and dedication of our employees.”
Buses departed every eight to 10 minutes from a stop on Long Beach Boulevard and First Street, a five- to 10-minute walk from three parking lots at City Place. Customers reserved parking online through the city parking portal at a $12 daily fee, avoiding SoFi parking fees — which started at $100.
More than 130 LBT employees delivered the service, and staffers were stationed at the stop every match day. About 90% of customers said the service was easy to use, and more than 9 in 10 said they would recommend it, the press release said.
“We didn’t want to pay $200 for parking,” passenger Allison said in an LBT Instagram video. “We were looking into the Metro, and while we were doing our research, we found this bus. I was excited to see the biggest sporting event in the world.”
The trip from Long Beach to Inglewood took about one hour, and customers paid a $1.75 fee each way with a credit card or a Transit Access Pass card. Service began about four hours before kickoff, and the last return departed 90 minutes after the final whistle.
“Easy to get to the buses, lines went quick, very safe,” Dan from Las Vegas said in the Instagram video. “There’s transit police everywhere, and it drops you off pretty close to the stadium. Good ride back. All great.”
LBT also transported customers to its Transit Gallery on First Street to connect fans with World Cup celebrations in downtown. From June 11 to 27, the city shut down Pine Avenue between Third Street and Broadway for watch parties hosted with the LA Galaxy.
“I am proud of what our team accomplished,” McDonald said, “and confident that this experience positions our agency to welcome the world again during the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
For the 2028 Summer Olympics, Metro is working with its transit partners on the “Games Enhanced Transit System.” The temporary system will borrow buses from other transit agencies and include bus malls and depots to accommodate an estimated 1 million extra trips each day during the Olympics, the Long Beach press release said.