Russian Granny Charging Fees at Mobile Toilets

During the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, there was a phenomenon where Russian grannies charged fees next to mobile toilets outside the World Cup stadium in St. Petersburg, with a standard fee of 30 rubles per person. Here is a detailed introduction to this phenomenon:

Fee Collectors and Scenarios

During the 2018 FIFA World Cup held in Russia, St. Petersburg, as an important host city, witnessed a unique scene outside its World Cup stadium. On match days, several Russian grannies would stand beside the mobile toilets to collect fees. These grannies were not official fee collectors but took on this responsibility, charging fees from spectators entering the mobile toilets.

Fee Standard

The fee was clearly set at 30 rubles per person. This price setting likely took into account various factors such as the local economic level, the operating costs of the mobile toilets, and market demand. For the spectators attending the World Cup at that time, 30 rubles was a relatively reasonable price that would not deter them from using the mobile toilets due to excessive cost while also partially compensating for the operating costs of the mobile toilets.

Real-life Example

A photographer personally experienced this situation during the match between Argentina and Nigeria on June 27th. This indicates that the fee-charging phenomenon was not an isolated case but rather a relatively common occurrence on match days. During such a highly anticipated match, a large number of spectators flocked to the stadium, increasing the demand for mobile toilets. The Russian grannies carried out their fee-collecting work at this time, meeting the spectators' usage needs while completing their fee-collection tasks.

Speculation Behind the Phenomenon

The emergence of this phenomenon may be related to the management situation around the stadium at that time. Perhaps there was some negligence or a shortage of manpower in the official management of the mobile toilets, giving the Russian grannies an opportunity to participate in the fee-collection work. At the same time, this also reflects the active participation and utilization of the local residents in the large-scale event of the World Cup, seeking to gain certain economic benefits through this approach.