The Brief
- While Seattle businesses closest to the stadium are experiencing record-high World Cup revenues, shops just a few blocks away in the Chinatown International District (CID) are seeing slow foot traffic and historical lows as regular local customers avoid stadium traffic.
- Beyond location challenges, some business owners report that neighborhood safety concerns, such as theft and open-air drug use, are keeping soccer tourists away from specific areas of the district.
- To redirect tourist traffic to struggling shops, local organizations are hosting community events through July 19, including match watch parties and a stamp book initiative with prizes.
SEATTLE – The FIFA World Cup has helped some businesses in Seattle hit record highs, but others in the city are still waiting to reap the benefits of the big tournament. While the soccer matches have brought an influx of tourists to the Pacific Northwest, the economic boom hasn’t been shared equally — even within the same neighborhood.
The economic impacts of the FIFA World Cup vary across Seattle’s Chinatown International District (CID). While businesses located closest to Seattle Stadium are feeling the financial benefits, others just a few blocks away say foot traffic has been slow, including at a free community match watch party hosted at Hoa Mai Park on Wednesday.
For businesses close enough to hear the cheers echoing from inside the stadium, World Cup revenue has been a major win.…