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Story Highlights
- Seattle flight bookings fell nearly 21% year over year during the World Cup.
- Visit Seattle lowered its economic impact projection to $845.6 million from $929 million.
- During the World Cup, Seattle is expected to draw 750,000 fans, a mix of residents and visitors.
World Cup fever landed in Seattle this week.
Actual flights? Eh … not so much.
Flight bookings to Seattle during the World Cup are down almost 21% year over year, coinciding with a decline in arrivals to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
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Seattle is the only American host city to have a year-over-year decrease in flight bookings, according to data from the travel marketing platform Sojern. Houston led all American cities with an almost 11% year-over-year increase, followed by Dallas with almost 9%.
Earlier this month, the Business Journal reported a year-over-year decline in flights into Sea-Tac during the World Cup’s three-week residency in Seattle.
For a city banking on an economic boost from the international soccer tournament, the early signs have tempered some of the local hype around the World Cup. As one of 11 U.S. host cities, Seattle was expected to draw 750,000 fans, a mix of residents and visitors.
Visit Seattle projects the tournament will generate $845.6 million for King County, down from a 2024 projection of $929 million, owing to multiple factors, including fewer anticipated international visitors.
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On average, travelers are booking their trips to Seattle almost 80 days ahead of time, roughly five days earlier than last year, according to Sojern. Canada, the U.K. and China, in order, are the top feeder countries into Seattle.
Canadian travelers have been wary of U.S. travel in recent years as President Donald Trump has repeatedly antagonized the nation and its leaders. The lack of Canadian tourism has hit Washington especially hard.
Hotel average daily rates in Seattle during the World Cup are up 7% compared to the same period last year.
Soccer fans from all over the world descended on Lumen Field, known as Seattle Stadium during the World Cup for branding requirements, for Monday’s 1-1 tie between Belgium and Egypt.
Seattle will host three more group-stage matches, including a Team USA vs. Australia matchup Friday, and two knockout-round matches. The last of Seattle’s six World Cup matches is July 6.
The tournament is expected to generate $95.8 million in state and local tax revenue.