Seattle World Cup Spin Falls Short on Real Economic Gains

Jason Rantz argues Seattle officials used a World Cup victory lap to tout economic benefits that never materialized: flight bookings in Seattle dropped about 21% during the tournament, hotel occupancy trailed forecasts by roughly 20%, and benefits were uneven across neighborhoods. While officials highlighted light-rail use and airport traffic, analysts and local business owners say the projected $32 million in public spending didn’t deliver as promised, exposing a gap between political spin and actual outcomes.