Vancouver’s Post-World Cup Outlook
Following the conclusion of its hosting duties for the FIFA World Cup, Vancouver is working to prevent a downturn in tourism, a phenomenon referred to by Destination Vancouver CEO Royce Chwin as “the great sigh.” This term describes the lull that can occur after a major event, with Chwin referencing a similar quiet period after the 2010 Olympics. The city had planned for years to counter such a slump, scheduling conferences and cultural events that began the day after the final whistle was blown at BC Place on July 7.
Vancouver was one of 16 cities across Canada, the United States, and Mexico to host tournament games. Chwin expressed that Vancouver “presented incredibly well” as a host city and for fan experiences on a global scale. While some businesses, particularly sports bars, saw increased sales, others experienced a decline. Chwin acknowledged both successes and challenges, stating that the city is still evaluating the overall positive and negative impacts across the region.
The unprecedented nature of this World Cup, with hosting duties spread across three countries, was reflected in hotel occupancy rates. Downtown Vancouver hotels reported a 75 per cent occupancy rate in June, compared to 91 per cent during the same period in 2025. Chwin noted this trend was not unique to Vancouver but was observed across many of the host cities.
Economic Impact and Business Experiences
Despite city officials promoting the World Cup as a significant economic opportunity, many Vancouver business owners reported that the anticipated surge did not materialize. Susanna Ng, who has run New Town Bakery and Restaurant in Chinatown for nearly five decades, experienced a drop in sales in June, a rare occurrence in her years in business. She noted that the first match-day weekend was so quiet that she sent staff home early.
Andrew Zimbalist, an American sports economist, suggests that the economic benefits of mega-events are often overstated. He explained that host cities might attract soccer fans but simultaneously deter regular visitors who wish to avoid crowds, congestion, higher prices, or security concerns. Media reports of high hotel prices in Vancouver may have discouraged visitors months before the tournament, even when rooms were available.
Karri Green, owner of Chambar, a Belgian restaurant near BC Place, stated that her restaurant’s revenues were down by approximately 20 per cent compared to a typical summer. She highlighted the investment businesses made in anticipation of an influx of people, such as extra glassware and screens. Road closures and traffic restrictions, part of the city’s match-day security plans, often had details released late, making it difficult for businesses to inform customers about access and parking.
Malindi Taylor, sales director for Fanny Bay Oyster Bar & Shellfish Market, also reported that despite preparations and scheduling extra shifts based on expected visitor numbers, the business did not experience the anticipated boost. She suggested that warnings about potential congestion might have led locals to avoid downtown. While business eventually stabilized to normal June levels after two quiet weeks, there was no significant increase from the World Cup for her establishment.
A spokesperson for the Vancouver Host Committee clarified that hosting the World Cup was not solely an economic endeavour, but also aimed to foster community, celebrate soccer, and strengthen partnerships for future events. Vancouver’s projected World Cup costs are around a significant amount. Moshe Lander, a Canadian economist, noted that governments often promote mega-events on economic grounds but later emphasize civic pride and long-term exposure when immediate returns are not evident. He pointed out that FIFA controls major revenue streams, including broadcast rights and ticket sales, while local governments bear many of the event’s staging costs. During negotiations in 2018, BC and Vancouver temporarily withdrew due to concerns over unclear financial terms in FIFA‘s contract.
Looking Ahead for Vancouver
Despite varied economic outcomes for businesses, transit and airport authorities reported increased usage during Vancouver’s hosting period. The Vancouver Airport Authority indicated strong demand, with approximately 2.8 million passengers traveling through the airport between June 8 and July 10, averaging about 86,000 passengers per day. Peak days saw nearly 92,000 passengers, representing a five to 10 per cent increase in passenger volumes over the same period last year.
The city’s transit authority also reported a rise in ridership, particularly on match days, generating over 600,000 additional transit boardings across the region. Near BC Place, SkyTrain stations experienced an average ridership increase of 54 per cent on match days, marking the highest ridership in the area since the 2010 Olympics.
Chwin emphasized the renewed sense of civic pride and the city’s ability to host significant events with a positive impact, aiming to capitalize on this momentum in the coming years. Science World will maintain its FIFA World Cup soccer ball appearance until September.
With the tournament concluding, Vancouver’s official FIFA World Cup stores are preparing to close. Merchandise is being sold at reduced prices, with items like scarves and hockey-style jerseys offered at 50 per cent off at the Granville Street location. T-shirts and bucket hats were 30 per cent off, and baseball caps were part of a buy-one-get-one-50-per-cent-off promotion. The downtown store locations are expected to remain open daily until July 31.
The temporary grass pitch at BC Place is being removed to be replaced by a new artificial turf field. The first post-FIFA event at BC Place is a BC Lions game against the Toronto Argonauts. The Vancouver Whitecaps will play their first home game in months on August 1 against LAFC.
Read Also
Source: globalnews.ca
