2026 NYC Climate Week - Fans, Fanfare and Transit Fares

Sports rivalries aside, global sporting events bring global-scale transportation challenges. Every few years, host cities are compelled to rethink how people move through urban areas as they prepare for an influx of visitors, workers, athletes, and residents. North American Cities are confronting this challenge today as they host the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Beyond the excitement and international attention these events generate lies a critical question: How can investments made to support major sporting events create lasting transportation benefits for local communities?

At NYC Climate Week, this panel will explore how mega-events can both strain transportation systems and serve as catalysts for transformative mobility investments. Panelists will examine how cities can leverage event-driven infrastructure and investments to improve transit access, reduce emissions, and advance transportation equity long after the closing ceremony.

Drawing on lessons from members of the Clean Mobility Collective–including leaders and experts from Paris, Rio de Janeiro/Sao Paulo, and Mexico city–this discussion will highlight both the successes and challenges of preparing transportation networks for major international events. Attendees will gain insights into how cities can turn short-term transportation demands into long-term opportunities for more connected, accessible, affordable, and equitable mobility systems.