In Miami, Barry Jackson noted parking prices set by FIFA for World Cup matches at Hard Rock Stadium not only “run as high as $249.99” for a single spot, but FIFA has “jacked up the prices by $100 or more since the fall.” Parking “must be pre-purchased and fans must show proof that they have a ticket.” Each fan with a ticket is “limited to one parking space.” Miami-Dade County announced this week that it will “provide complimentary game-day shuttles for fans with tickets to any of the seven games” (MIAMI HERALD, 4/28).
NEEDING MANPOWER: In Toronto, Ben Cohen reported Toronto paramedics said that they “don’t have the resources to respond to emergencies in the city during the World Cup because FIFA is requiring them to stand by in case players are injured on the pitch.” At a Tuesday meeting of council’s FIFA subcommittee, paramedic chief Bikram Chawla said that this was “a new request from the football association,” which is “why he is only bringing it to their attention now, less than two months before the tournament kicks off” (TORONTO STAR, 4/28).
