The "Fan Fest" outdoor screening areas being set up in Sydney for this year's football World Cup by FIFA and the local government are costing A$7 million in taxpayer money. The Sydney Morning Herald reported the figure, and noted that New South Wales taxpayers would be underwriting the cost of operating giant screens at the events which would be showing advertisements from World Cup sponsors, who would also be marketing their products within the zones.

The public money is paying for policing the 30,000 people expected to converge each day at the sites, from 9:30pm to 6am. FIFA told the SMH it has paid for "basic infrastructure" costs, including the four screens being used, three floating in Darling Harbour and one in Tumbalong Park.

The New South Wales government will be able to sell on-screen advertising time to third parties to help set-off the costs of staging the event, but any deals had to be approved by FIFA, whose sponsors will get priority.