It’s always nice when you describe a story in numbers – especially when those numbers are in the billions. And if you’re a business publication, it’s even better if there are dollar signs attached to them.
That’s the case with our Story of the Year: New Jersey being awarded the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The match will be played July 19, 2026, at what we know as MetLife Stadium. The world – and an estimated 3 billion viewers – will be told its New York/New Jersey Stadium.
Regardless of the name, it will represent the final day of a month-long event in which millions of people will be introduced to our state. And in addition to the exposure, the event is expected to bring $3 billion in economic activity to the area.
Sure, plenty will go to New York City, but New Jersey (including South Jersey) will get many pieces of the pie.
Not that it will be free.
The state is working to raise more than $100 million to help with logistical expenses. Not surprisingly, it is asking the business community to pitch in.
For all of these reasons and more, the announcement of the host of the final on Feb. 4, is our Story of the Year.
With that, the Top Ten:
No. 10: The End of the Line
The state changing its antiquated (and unfair) ballot design – a decision that may have impacted who the state selected as its next Senator – figures to be the No. 1 event on many year-end political lists.
And since the business community is so keenly connected to government in New Jersey, the repercussions of this are big enough to earn a space on our list.
Click here to read why AG Matt Platkin said the state wouldn’t defend the ballot design, the start of the story.
And click here to read why the end of the line – among other reasons – helped change the race to fill the open U.S. Senate seat.
No. 9: The Camden Sixers
We’ll admit it, no one connects Camden to the events of 1776. Of course, those events happened nearly 250 years ago.
The state’s present-day push to bring the NBA team across the river – an effort that came with huge incentives and a splashy arena design – isn’t completely dead yet. And regardless of the final result, the effort helped New Jersey – and Camden – become national news.
The state made a name for itself when it lured the NFL Giants (and then Jets) across a river. This time, even if it was just getting time on the national scene, the effort was worth it.
Click here for details on the initial proposal.
Click here for a look at the rendering of the flashy potential arena.
No. 8: What’s Up at Rutgers
The school, the subject of antisemitism claims for its actions regarding those protesting events in the Middle East, survived inquiries by Washington, D.C. (Far better than many universities, to be honest.)
The craziness of the events – combined with a teachers’ strike – was too much for President Jonathan Holloway, who announced he will be stepping down at the end of the current school year.
Holloway’s announcement overshadowed the departure of the school’s athletic director, who abruptly resigned due to a scandal that’s still being investigated.
All this, at a time when Rutgers rankings nationally – and its research dollars – have never been better or higher.
Click here for a look at Holloway’s departure.
Click here for an interview with board chair Amy Towers on the various searches going on at the school.
No 7: New Looks in Health Care
Health care continues to be a driving economic force in the state and country. How it will be delivered moving forward continues to evolve.
Hackensack Meridian Health held a ground-breaking for a unique development at MetroPark in Iselin, one that will include housing and health care – at a transit hub.
Click here to read more about that.
Cooper University Health Care, while increasingly becoming a force throughout the South Jersey region, showed its commitment to its base by introducing a $3 billion expansion plan.
Click here to read more about that.
No. 6: Movie Making
Imagine if one of your biggest dreams came true. For Gov. Murphy, that’s the case with its efforts to bring the film/TV/digital media business back to the state.
Through incentives from the Economic Development Authority – including massive Aspire tax credits (credits based on future success not blank checks, in case you’re still not sure what this means) – the state is close to opening two massive studios (and plenty of others)
Click here to read about 1888 Studios coming to Bayonne.
Click here to read about Netflix coming to Fort Monmouth.
5: Choosing New Jersey
The state likes to tout its location and educated workforce across the country and around the world in an effort to bring more business to New Jersey.
Sometimes, those biggest wins happen in your backyard.
This year, three major companies that could have settled anywhere – CoreWeave, Kenvue and Unilever – doubled down of their commitment to the state.
Click here to read about CoreWeave taking 280,000 SF of space at the NEST in Kenilworth.
Click here to read about Kenvue breaking ground on a headquarters in Summit.
Click here to read about Unilever moving its headquarters to Hoboken.
No. 4: Our Great Shame: The Disparity Study
For a soon-to-be majority minority state – one that the governor frequently says touts its diversity as a “badge of honor” – the disparity study is our great shame.
Shame that it took so long to complete: Six years.
Shame that the data was even worse than expected: And the bar was low.
Shame that it has only resulted in (limited) talk but little action.
Companies from minority or underserved communities deserve access to state contracts that match their representation in the state.
Others, including New York, have learned how to do this. And they have for one reason: Their leaders wanted to do something.
Read the story on the original release of the study here.
Read the story on how little has been done nearly a year later here.
No. 3: The Cost of Doing Business
Gov. Murphy kept his promise. He let the surcharge on the corporate business tax sunset at the end of 2023. A few weeks later, he introduced the Corporate Transit Fee.
Call it a bait-and-switch. Call it politics. Call it the price of doing business in New Jersey.
New Jersey is a high-tax state. Murphy himself has admitted as much. And perhaps (see stories No. 5, 6 and 7) plenty of companies have said, ‘We’re good with that.’
This tax is a little different. The business community always is called on to fund projects. In this case, the transit fee does little to help South Jersey – which, ironically, has been asking for more services.
How long will this tax last. Well, you know the answer. In fact, the ask might get greater in the next administration, which will take office just as the state hits a fiscal cliff of falling revenue.
Click here to read about the Corporate Transit Fee.
Click here and here to read about the pushback from business.
Click here to read about South Jersey and its lack of transit.
Click here to read about $100 million ask for World Cup.
Click here to read about the governor’s efforts to cut back state spending.
No. 2: The Tunnel
Forget the fact that the pandemic proved the economy wouldn’t collapse if people couldn’t get to work. That’s a good thing – because the more than 100-year-old tunnels leading trains into New York City may still collapse.
At least, replacements (and reinforcements of the existing tunnels) are on the way.
The Gateway Tunnel project has finally been fully funded.
Click here to read more.
No. 1: Our Cup Runneth Over
More people will watch the FIFA 2026 World Cup final than have watched the last ten Super Bowls – combined.
The exposure is just part of the prize.
The match, to be played July 19, 2026 – at what we know as MetLife Stadium, will bring untold billions in economic dollars from visitors.
Yes, we know, the Super Bowl was an economic bust for the state. This time, numerous groups are working to ensure that’s not the case for the month-long event that is the World Cup.
Click here to read the inside story of how Gov. Murphy and his team worked to get the final (over Dallas and Los Angeles).
Click here to read a speculative story of its financial impact on the region.
Click here to read about the business networking possibilities that come with the big event.
