Kris Kolluri Says NJ Transit Overcame ‘Super Bowl Curse’ During World Cup

Photo: APTA

India-West News Desk

NEW YORK, NY – New Jersey Transit CEO Kris Kolluri said the agency successfully handled transportation for fans attending all eight FIFA World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium, marking a sharp turnaround from the operational failures that plagued the 2014 Super Bowl.

“The curse of Super Bowl 2014 is over,” Kolluri said in an interview on July 19 to Politico.

The agency transported thousands of fans to and from MetLife Stadium by train and bus throughout the tournament without any major service disruptions, despite bouts of severe weather that threatened operations and affected other transit services, Politico reported.

Kolluri, who was appointed CEO of NJ Transit in early 2025 after previously serving as commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation and leading the Gateway Development Commission, credited the agency’s workforce for the successful operation.

“The only reason why this worked is because of an extraordinary team who knew we were the underdog, and we were not going to let each other down,” Kolluri told reporters. He was joined by members of the team that had spent several years preparing for the tournament.

The smooth execution stood in stark contrast to the 2014 Super Bowl, when severe delays and overcrowding left thousands of football fans stranded after the game, damaging NJ Transit’s reputation for years.

To prepare for the Club World Cup, NJ Transit implemented an extensive operational plan, including keeping about 80 train cars on standby to quickly move trains in and out of the stadium after matches. The agency is still calculating the total cost of providing the enhanced service.