World Cup demand is putting hospitality infrastructure under pressure, warns LDF Group

With the tournament now well underway and running until 19 July, many operators are already seeing the impact of major matchdays on front-of-house teams. But according to Lee Carlin, Group CEO of LDF Group, the pressure is limited to staffing, screens, and service.

“When venues are busy during major tournaments like the World Cup, the visible parts of the guest experience naturally take priority,” Carlin says. “That means atmosphere, service, screens, staffing levels and keeping customers moving. But behind the scenes, the infrastructure is working harder too.”

“Higher footfall and longer dwell times mean plumbing and drainage systems are under greater strain for longer periods of time. If something goes wrong, it can very quickly become a guest-facing issue.”

Infrastructure pressure is already building behind the scenes

For pubs, bars and restaurants, major sporting events create concentrated spikes in demand. Data from hospitality technology provider Zonal shows pub bookings for England’s first World Cup game were up +184% compared to the same data in 2025, while match bookings across all hospitality were up significantly, increasing +64% year-on-year.

Washrooms see heavier use, kitchens operate under greater pressure, and drainage systems are expected to cope with higher volumes of waste and wastewater across extended trading periods. While these systems are often invisible to customers, any failure can have an immediate impact on the guest experience. Blocked toilets, backed-up drains, leaks or grease-related issues can quickly disrupt service, create hygiene concerns and put additional pressure on staff during already busy fixtures.

Carlin explains, “in hospitality, the basics matter. Customers may not think about drainage or plumbing when they walk into a venue, but they notice very quickly when something is not working as it should. During a major fixture, when venues are busy and teams already stretched, even a small issue can escalate quickly.”

LDF Group is warning hospitality operators to review drainage and plumbing resilience as World Cup footfall puts venues under pressure 

Why waiting until something fails is a risk

LDF Group says one of the biggest challenges is that plumbing and drainage are still often treated reactively, with action only taken once a problem has already started to affect operations.

During a tournament period, that approach can leave operators exposed. With venues trading through busy matchdays and, in some cases, later into the evening, the margin for error becomes much smaller.

“Preventing a disruption will always be more valuable than reacting to one in the middle of service,” Carlin adds. “Once a venue is full, the impact of an infrastructure issue is immediate. If a washroom goes out of use or a drainage problem affects back-of-house operations, it cannot be confined solely as a maintenance problem. It needs to be seen as a major operational issue. The venues that manage these periods best are usually the ones that identify pressure points early and make sure critical infrastructure systems are ready to perform while demand is high.”

With later licensing in place for home-nation knockout fixtures, LDF Group says emergency response plans and planned maintenance schedules must be reviewed now

Operators should act before peak fixtures intensify pressure

According to LDF Group, hospitality operators should use this stage of the tournament to review infrastructure readiness before peak fixtures place further pressure on venues. Alongside staffing rotas, stock levels, booking systems and screen set-ups, operators should be reviewing planning maintenance schedules, emergency response arrangements and out-of-hours-contact routes.

Issues such as blocked toilets, backed-up drains and fats, oils and grease build-up are often preventable if they are identified early enough. Routine checks during the tournament can help reduce the likelihood of disruption during the busiest trading moments.

“The World Cup is a major opportunity for hospitality, but it also tests how well venues cope under pressure,” Carlin says. “Readiness is not just about what customers see front of house, it also includes the systems they never think about unless something goes wrong. Plumbing and drainage may sit behind the scenes, but during high-footfall events they have a direct impact on service, reputation and operational continuity.”

Pub bookings for England’s opening World Cup fixture were up +184%, highlighting the scale of demand

LDF Group’s top three tips for operators during peak matchdays

1. Increase planned maintenance during the tournament

Major tournaments place extra pressure on washrooms, plumbing and drainage systems, so operators should consider increasing the cadence of planned preventative maintenance while demand remains high. Where possible, checks should be carried out when venues are closed to minimise disruption and identify issues before they become guest-facing problems.

2. Review service level agreements with infrastructure providers

Peak trading periods are the time to make sure SLAs are fit for purpose. Operators should be confident that, in the event of an emergency, response times are fast enough to protect service and keep venues trading.

3. Make sure out-of-hours contact routes are clear

When an issue happens during late trading, speed matters. Site teams should have direct, up-to-date contact details for infrastructure partners and know exactly who to call for rapid out-of-hours support.