The impact of the upcoming USA match is stretching into all parts of the Bay Area. Hotel officials say they have the capacity and are now prepping for July 1 when Team USA makes its debut in the World Cup Round of 32 in Santa Clara. But whether you can get a ticket to the match is a whole other c hallenge that could be historic. Now that the team has clinched the top spot in its group, San Francisco hotels are making plans. “We talked about it today. I think we’re going to have to step it up for all the Americans that are looking to watch and support their team,” said Peter Hart, general manager of Hilton Union Square and Parc 55. The Hilton Union Square is the biggest hotel on the West Coast, and staff say come one, come all, and book now. “Rates tend to get a little bit higher the closer you get to the event, the more compression that happens. So always good to secure the rooms in advance,” Hart said. “I think rates in the market, in general, are in the $200 to $400 range.” That is chump change compared to what you might be forking out for a single ticket to that Team USA match. A check of StubHub showed tickets ranging from about $2,700 to more than $16,000. Wondering where’s the sweet spot to snag a cheaper ticket? “They should have already had them,” said Dr. Josh Greer, a ticket sales researcher. Greer says the World Cup has become out of reach for the common fan, and the ceiling for those sky-high prices might be record-setting. “This may be the most expensive event if the United States continues to win,” Greer said. “Sports are now a top-level event that most folks want to attend or at least be at, whether it be for status or actually seeing the game, but it’s no longer an event that’s affordable to go to. You’re going to have to save many years in advance,” Greer said. Greer says if you are still planning to go, buy from trusted sites with a buyer guarantee, like StubHub, Ticketmaster or TickPick. And he says don’t forget there are plenty of places to feel part of the magic for free, which is what the city wants visitors to do, and then some. “I would say that if they come here to stretch the trip into a few days because yes, it’s so great to experience the World Cup, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but San Francisco has so much to offer,” said Alex Bastian, CEO of the Hotel Council of San Francisco. ...read more read less