Metro Vancouver is likely to draw throngs of soccer fans and revellers this summer as part of the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
The soccer tournament will result in a two-month road closure for a section of one downtown street, along with a number of matchday road closures to allow for pedestrian access.
While each of Vancouver’s seven matchdays will see games that last around two hours, on average, crowds are expected throughout the tournament’s duration from June 11 to July 19.
Here’s a handy guide for places where crowds are likely to congregate across the Metro Vancouver region.
B.C. Place stadium
During Vancouver’s seven matchdays, large sections in and around False Creek and Andy Livingstone Park as well as the immediate area around B.C. Place stadium, will be closed to most traffic.
There will also be changes to pedestrian access at the Stadium-Chinatown and Yaletown-Roundhouse SkyTrain stations. Commuters will be encouraged to exit instead at the Main Street-Science World station to make their way along the matchday spectator route to B.C. Place.
(City of Vancouver)
The City of Vancouver’s host committee said walking and wheelchair access will be maintained, and the seawall will remain open — though signed detours will be posted as required.
PNE Fan Fest
The official FIFA Fan Festival will be held at the PNE Amphitheatre at Hastings Park in East Vancouver — and it won’t just draw crowds on matchdays.
Hastings Park will play host to screening events and concerts throughout the duration of the World Cup, largely from Wednesday to Sunday, starting June 11 and going until July 19.
A full schedule is available on the city’s host committee website, and the fan festival’s opening hours vary, though it will usually draw crowds all day.
TransLink is running a direct bus to the fan festival from the 29th Avenue SkyTrain station, which could attract throngs of people.
Vancouver host committee lead Jessie Adcock says organizers have been listening carefully to PNE-area residents’ concerns about parking and congestion, which is part of why they are promoting a Know Before You Go campaign.
The PNE Amphitheatre in East Vancouver will draw thousands of people, usually from Wednesday to Sunday, as part of the FIFA Fan Festival. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Granville Street and downtown
The rest of Vancouver’s downtown core is likely to be filled with soccer fans — especially Granville Street.
Five blocks of Granville Street, from West Georgia Street in the north to Davie Street in the south, will be pedestrian-only from June 11 to July 20.
Transit buses travelling through Granville Street will be re-routed to Seymour and Howe streets, and supported by “new 24/7 bus lanes” that will run for the duration of the program, the city says.
Other areas with bars and restaurants that are set to show World Cup games include a stretch near the Yaletown-Roundhouse SkyTrain station and Gastown.
Other busy areas
While crowds will pack downtown Vancouver, especially on matchdays, it’s likely busy streets around the city — like Commercial Drive, Main Street and Broadway — will also be packed with crowds.
Communities like Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam and others around the province will also be putting on their own screening events and soccer-specific festivals throughout the summer — largely in their city centres or nearby parks.