The atlanta-airbnb-world-cup-why-185510457.html">world’s biggest soccer tournament begins this month, and one new report is already making a bold prediction about what fans at Atlanta’s matches will be consuming.
According to a study from Action Network, World Cup matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, known as Atlanta Stadium, could generate millions of dollars in beer sales as hundreds of thousands of fans descend on Atlanta during the 2026 tournament.
The estimate would place Atlanta among the top host cities in the country for beer revenue during the tournament.
Here’s everything to know.
The report projects that fans attending matches in Atlanta will buy approximately 1,342,478 beers across the city’s eight scheduled World Cup matches.
To put that into perspective, researchers calculated the volume would be enough to fill roughly 1.3 million large Chick-fil-A cups.
Atlanta is scheduled to host eight World Cup matches, including a semifinal, making Mercedes-Benz Stadium one of the busiest venues in the tournament.
Action Network estimates Atlanta could generate $8,726,111 in stadium beer sales during the World Cup.
That would account for about 6.8% of the projected $127.8 million in beer revenue expected across U.S. host cities.
The estimate is based on attendance projections, expected consumption rates and local concession pricing.
Researchers pointed to Atlanta’s combination of high attendance and relatively affordable concession prices.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium has become known for offering some of the lowest food and beverage prices among major professional sports venues.
The report notes the average beer price in Atlanta is approximately $6.50, helping drive higher projected sales volumes than some markets with more expensive concessions.
The city is also expected to benefit from hosting eight matches, including one of the tournament’s marquee semifinal contests.
Atlanta ranked seventh among U.S. host cities in projected stadium beer revenue:
- New York New Jersey
- Los Angeles
- Dallas
- Houston
- Miami
- San Francisco
- Atlanta
- Philadelphia
- Boston
- Seattle
- Kansas City
The analysis used projected attendance figures, stadium fill rates, historical viewership data, estimated beverage consumption and venue-specific beer prices to calculate potential sales.
The estimates represent projected direct beer revenue generated inside stadiums during World Cup matches and do not include spending at bars, restaurants or other businesses outside the venues.
While the actual numbers won’t be known until after the tournament, the report suggests Atlanta’s role as a World Cup host could extend well beyond the action on the field, and into the concession stands as well.
For the full study, visit actionnetwork.com/soccer/how-much-beer-will-be-drank-world-cup.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia, covering food and entertainment. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Which World Cup stadium could drink the most? See Atlanta’s beer rank
