World Cup tourists are coming to L.A. for the soccer, but they\u2019re staying for the $21 smoothies and Double-Doubles.<\/p>\n
As the last Los Angeles FIFA World Cup event ended Friday, soccer fans were eating like locals and famous chains from the region were cashing in.<\/p>\n
In the weeks that L.A. has hosted the World Cup, international soccer enthusiasts have flocked to big brands from the area, often in large groups wearing their countries\u2019 jerseys.<\/p>\n
It is a phenomenon seen at many of the host cities. In Dallas, giant gas station Buc-ee\u2019s is the main attraction. For people visiting New Jersey, deli shops have been a hot ticket. In L.A., the place to be between matches was Erewhon.<\/p>\n
Thirsty international sports fans gathered for pictures outside different Erewhons, wandered their aisles smiling, and, of course, picked up pricey smoothies. <\/p>\n
While Erewhon would not comment on its business, mobility data company Arity, which uses phone data to track consumers, said Erewhon visits at the outlets around SoFi Stadium were quadruple what they were a week earlier on June 12, the day of the U.S. national soccer team\u2019s opening match there. <\/p>\n
Arity looked at what stores people visited within a 10-mile radius of SoFi that day and also found surges in visitors to nearby El Pollo Loco and Trader Joe\u2019s. <\/p>\n
Locals have spotted groups of people in Korea jerseys huddled together, trying to decide what to order at In-N-Out.<\/p>\n
Some complained on social media that international tourists at Trader Joe\u2019s were buying up all the mini canvas tote bags. <\/p>\n
Soon after the Belgium vs. Spain quarterfinal ended Friday, the In-N-Out near SoFi had a long line of soccer fans stretching out the door in bright red and yellow and black jerseys and matching striped hats and scarves. <\/p>\n
One of the workers said he had to explain \u201cspread\u201d and \u201canimal style\u201d to foreign football fans. <\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know this place existed,\u201d a fan from Romania said while waiting in line.<\/p>\n
Los Angeles and other cities and states that have hosted the event need the soccer fans to spend money to make the event worth all the time, effort and money it requires.<\/p>\n