Host cities. USA, Mexico, Canada. They got the fans.
They got the noise.
Local spots saw a surge of international faces. Hotels raked in better revenue per available room — RevPAR, the industry calls it. Everyone watched them.
But wait.
Non-host cities are pulling ahead, too.
Actually pulling away.
CoStar says non-host markets have seen RevPAR grow at least 6% every single week since the tournament started. Compare that to the big guns? They are not far behind, really, in those top 25 markets. But the momentum feels different here.
Crowds show up.
Big spenders from overseas. The kind of people who order expensive drinks and don’t look at the bill.
Host cities struggled with occupancy rates. Struggled big.
Non-host demand was up 1.7 year-over-year back in late June. A small number maybe. It adds up.
“Non-host markets are outperforming expectations.”
Why?
Group business in the host zones took a nose-dive. Organizers squeezed them hard. Prices got weird.
Fans figured out a loophole.
They go somewhere nearby. Somewhere cheaper. Same games on TV. Less hassle. More fun.
The ripple effect hits harder than anyone predicted.
It’s not just about who hosts the game.
It’s about who makes it easier to watch it.
