Public transit ridership records broken for FIFA World Cup Stadium opener

A coordinated network of VTA, BART, and Caltrain, transported more than 37,000 passengers to and from the opening FIFA World Cup match between Qatar and Switzerland, setting a new ridership record for a major event at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.

Following the match, VTA once again surpassed industry expectations by clearing light rail platforms serving the stadium in less than 90 minutes. The benchmark for clearing crowds after a major event at Levi's Stadium (named SF Bay Area Stadium for the FIFA World Cup) is two hours.

"This was a tremendous success for VTA and our regional transit partners," said VTA General Manager and CEO Carolyn Gonot. "Thousands of fans chose transit to get to and from the match, and together with BART and Caltrain, we provided a seamless travel experience that kept people moving and got them home safely."

A total of 37,642 passengers used VTA service during the event, with post-match crowds exceeding the number of fans who arrived by transit before kickoff. Despite the larger post-game surge, VTA maintained efficient operations and cleared platforms well ahead of the two-hour industry standard. The number is more than 6000 over the transit crowds for Super Bowl LX.

The success was made possible through close coordination among the Bay Area's transit agencies. BART transported passengers from San Francisco and the East Bay to Milpitas Transit Center, where they connected to VTA light rail service for the final trip to the stadium.

"BART saw an increase of more than 160% in ridership at Milpitas Station Saturday compared with the previous weekend," said BART General Manager Bob Powers. "We've worked with our fellow transit agencies to make transfers fan friendly and now the world is seeing how far the Bay Area's transit network has come."

Caltrain carried passengers from San Francisco and communities throughout the Peninsula to Mountain View Transit Center, where riders transferred to VTA light rail trains bound for the stadium.

"Caltrain got nearly 7,000 fans to and from the first World Cup match quickly, safely and conveniently," said Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard. "With frequent half-hourly service and a great atmosphere onboard with fellow fans, Caltrain is the easiest way to skip traffic, avoid parking costs and get to the World Cup stress-free."

Additional trains, coordinated staffing, crowd management measures, and extensive operational planning helped ensure fans experienced a smooth journey throughout the day.

Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) and Capitol Corridor also provided service to the stadium.

The opening match is the first of six FIFA World Cup matches to be played at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium this summer. VTA will continue operating enhanced service throughout the tournament to support residents, visitors, and soccer fans from around the world.