business
World Cup vendors struggle to attract fans beyond Atlanta’s main FIFA attractions
By Adam Murphy at Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News
· June 21, 2026
· 1 min read
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Just blocks from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, dozens of vendor booths on the Steele Bridge at Nelson Street now sit empty, signaling that some small businesses hoping to cash in on FIFA World Cup crowds have fallen short of expectations.Soccer fans Matt Arambula and ...
Why this matters in The Atlanta
The struggles of World Cup vendors in areas like the Steele Bridge and Global Grub Alley raise questions about the city's ability to effectively disperse visitors and promote local businesses beyond main event areas. As the tournament continues, it will be crucial to observe how the city responds to these challenges and whether efforts to better connect visitors to surrounding vendors are successful. The fact that customer traffic varies significantly depending on a vendor's location suggests that targeted marketing and signage efforts could help drive more visitors to these areas. Additionally, the experience of vendors in these areas may provide valuable lessons for future large-scale events in Atlanta, highlighting the need for more effective communication and coordination between event organizers, local businesses, and the city to ensure that all areas benefit from the influx of visitors.
About this story
Original reporting by Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News . The Atlanta surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: business ·
Published: June 21, 2026 ·
Source: Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News ·
Reading time: 1 min
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What is this story about? ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Just blocks from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, dozens of vendor booths on the Steele Bridge at Nelson Street now sit empty, signaling that some small businesses hoping to cash in on FIFA World Cup crowds have fallen short of expectations.Soccer fans Matt Arambula and ...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 21, 2026 by Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News and curated for The Atlanta readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Adam Murphy at Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News. To learn more about how The Atlanta selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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