The City of Atlanta continues to be one of the world’s leaders in hosting some of the biggest sporting events, the list that includes the 96’ Olympics, multiple Super Bowls, and college sports championships, will add another staple in the sports world as the Georgia capital was selected as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World, which was announced last summer. And while Atlanta is no stranger to being the destination for millions of travelers, regardless of the reason, the World Cup is expected to only bring millions to the city, but also through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as individuals will have to pass through to get to other World Cup host cities.
On Tuesday, Steak Shapiro and Drew Butler were joined by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport General Manager, Balram Bheodari on The Steakhouse for their Leaders Series, and he shared some insight on what they will be expecting as they prepare for the World Cup. While sharing how he and Atlanta Mayor, Andre Dickens, were both on the same page in hopes of the city being named a host for the Cup, the realization that number of people that the event will bring through Atlanta’s gates, may be on one of the highest levels ever seen.
“Bigger than that, if Atlanta is selected as a host city for the semifinals, we think Super Bowl was big, you’re looking at a crowd 10 times the super bowl,” Bheodari told Shapiro and Butler and adding that with the international appeal of “futbol”, he and his staff are prepared for people to be drawn from “all over the globe and into Atlanta, into our great city if we do get semifinal games,” he added. Click the link above to hear Balram Bheodari’s comments in their entirety: