The World Cup Ghost Town Effect

Few events seriously dent a major city's busy pace. And with more than 13 million people in its metropolitan area, Buenos Aires, Argentina, is always hectic. Nearly a million people buzz around downtown every day, and 8,000 cars per hour jam the saturated Avenida Leandro N. Alem.

But every four years, Buenos Aires grinds to an utter and absolute halt during Argentina's World Cup matches. For as long as the national team remains in the tournament, most people's work, meetings, meals, gatherings—all of life, basically—is scheduled around the games.