Demand surges for Airbnbs during the World Cup in L.A., with prices jumping 56%
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On June 12, Peggy Orenstein’s inbox flooded with booking requests for her Inglewood Airbnb.The date seemed random, but after a quick search, the influx of interest became clear.It was exactly a year before one of the biggest events in American soccer history, when the U.S.
will kick off its World Cup in a match against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium, and Orenstein had set up the system to only accept booking requests up to a year in advance.Orenstein’s rental sits just across the street from the venue.Suddenly, her Airbnb became one of the hottest homes in the Southland.She hadn’t adjusted the prices yet to reflect the rabid demand, so she declined the requests and tweaked the rates.
Typically, a two-night stay at the house would cost around $1,000.For a two-night stay during the Americans’ opening match June 12, it’ll now cost more than $10,000.Roughly 6.5 million people are expected to travel to North America during the 2026 World Cup, and many of them will be heading to L.A., where SoFi Stadium is hosting eight games, including two U.S.
matches during the group stage.Airbnb hosts are viewing the games as a gold mine, hoping soccer fans will shell out thousands to stay near the stadium.The World Cup rental market will serve as a test case for the 2028 Olympics, when an estimated 15 million people are expected to visit Southern California.For the night of the opening match June 12, more than 70% of short-term rentals in Inglewood have already been booked, according to data site Inside Airbnb.
That’s a 58% increase compared to typical reservation rates on normal days.Rates are rising as well.
On June 1, the average booked rate for an Airbnb in L.A.is $245, according to data platform AirDNA.
On June 12, when the U.S.plays Paraguay, it’s $382 — a 56% jump.In Inglewood, prices are even wilder.
Homes that normally rent for hundreds are listed for thousands.The nightl...