Costs to host FIFA World Cup games in Vancouver skyrocket

Good morning,

It looks like Metro Vancouver is going to be warmer than normal this summer, as El Niño dissipates. Good news for beach goers, likely bad news for the fire season.

Today we’ve got a breakdown of the spiraling costs for the FIFA World Cup. Do readers actually care if the city hosts this massive event? Let us know in our poll below. We’ve also got a fun series of walking events that I think readers may enjoy.

Let’s get to it!

— Geoff Sharpe, Vancity Lookout editor

Editor’s note: In Monday’s edition I incorrectly stated more trees would increase the potential for flood risks, when we meant to say it would decrease the potential for flood risks. I also included the wrong dates for the Got Craft Spring Market. The correct dates are May 4-5. As you can tell, I am looking forward to having my colleague Robert back to edit my work after his much needed week off!

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WEATHER

Wednesday: 15 🌡️ 6 | 🌤️ 

Thursday: 18 🌡️ 8 | ☀️ 

Friday: 19 🌡️ 9 | 🌧️ 

SPORTS

Costs to host FIFA World Cup games in Vancouver skyrocket

I had intended to write about a new potential phone policy in Vancouver elementary schools, but when this story hit the afternoon airwaves, it had to take precedence…

What happened: There are two constants in life — death, and cost overruns on city projects. Vancouver’s living up to that reputation, with the city announcing that the price tag to host the FIFA World Cup soccer games in Vancouver has grown from an estimated $260 million in March 2022 to between $483 million and $581 million, according to the Star. 

The details: The price tag isn’t only for Vancouver, but includes the costs for the province and stadium upgrades. The numbers have been updated to include additional costs of capital requirements for FIFA sites, as well as costs due to inflation, according to TSN. 

• Yes, but: The price tag increase is not necessarily surprising. The original budget included only four games, and now the city is hosting six, which is great for soccer fans, less so for those managing costs. 

Much of that money will go towards upgrading BC Place to be ready for the games, including dressing rooms and broadcast facilities. 

Zoom out: Toronto is hosting one fewer game than Vancouver, and costs are expected to be $380 million. The price to host the games increased by $80 million after it was announced the city would host an additional game, according to CBC. 

The numbers: The city says while there will be benefits, the net revenue generated by the event will still result in a loss of between $100 million to $145 million, after federal funding of $116 million, increased tax revenues and other revenue sources. 

The city will have to cover half of the event costs, at about $246 million, according to CTV. The province is contributing around $237 million to $305 million, most from BC Pavilion Corporation for stadium upgrades. The province says that the economic benefit for the province between 2026 to 2031 will be $1 billion more in visitor spending, and $224 million in tax revenues. 

Criticism: Not everyone agrees the economic benefits outweigh the costs. A sports economist told CTV that cities tend to overestimate the economic benefits of these events.

What it means: Will this be the last price increase? Given the current trajectory, I wouldn’t be too optimistic. Some costs are outside the city’s control, such as rising inflation costs. And it raises questions of whether the money could be put to better use in a city that just increased property taxes by 7.5%.

Your thoughts: I’m interested to know how readers feel about this. I suspect with this type of popular event, locals are less concerned about costs. But let me know in the poll below!

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VANCOUVER NUMBERS

👎️ $1 million: No, that’s not the price of a house, but the cost of home renovations to a Vancouver heritage home, due to city rules. The owner wanted to turn the space into affordable housing for artists and increase the building’s density. Oh, and it took her eight years! [Vancouver Sun]

📉 15%: The percentage of BC dentists who’ve joined the Canadian Dental Care Plan, for families making under $70,000 a year. The president of the British Columbia Dental Association says there needs to be around 50% opt-in for it to be considered a success. [Vancouver is Awesome]

🎤 54,000: The number of people who attended Punjabi artist Diljit Dosanjh’s concert at BC Place. That’s the most attendees for a Punjabi music concert outside of India. [Billboard]

EVENTS

Walk and learn about Vancouver

Today’s second story is a little different than normal. I’m a big believer in walking, and of course, understanding the issues facing cities. So I thought I’d use our second story today to highlight a popular event this week.

Called Jane’s Walk, it’s a global movement free, locally-led walking tours inspired by the famous urban activist Jane Jacobs. It’s a great opportunity to get out, meet people and learn more about the city.

While many are already sold out, here are a few events that are still available that I think readers may enjoy. 

Kitsilano Missing Midrise Walking Tour | 2200 Arbutus St. | May 4, 2:30 pm | Housing advocate Peter Waldkirch, who I interviewed last week, explores the history of buildings in Kitsilano and what it means for the future | Learn more

Crow Walk | 1435 West 5th Ave. | May 5, 12 pm | Bird fan? Then this is for you. The walk explores how urban and wilderness interact with our urban life | Learn more

Radical Metrotown | Metrotown Station, Burnaby | May 5, 12:30 pm | Learn about the good, bad and ugly of the area, along with the development history, as well as old and new visions of the area | Learn more

Mow It or Grow It | 453 12th Ave., West Vancouver | May 4, 10 am | Learn about alternatives to traditional lawns, as well as urban planting, will get a kick out of this walk | Learn more

THE AGENDA

🏒 This is getting a little too close for comfort… The Canucks lost to the Predators 2-1 last night at Rogers Arena. Artur Silovs served as goalie, while Casey DeSmith and Thatcher Demko are both out with injuries. [CityNews]

💻️ London Drugs has been beset by a cyber attack that’s shut down stores across western Canada. You may have difficulties getting a prescription filled during this time. The company is investigating, but says they do not think customer data was breached. [Vancouver is Awesome]

🏘️ In a surprising twist, it now appears that the University Endowment Lands, full of large-scale expensive mansions, will be part of the province’s legislation to upzone single-family lots into multi-unit housing. [Urbanized]

👎️ It looks like another housing strategy will be foiled by, no surprise here, money. City staff have told council that while there has been some success in other cities around a policy called right-of-first refusal, the city doesn’t have enough money to purchase homes. The policy would allow the city to make an offer to purchase a property before it goes to the market. [Vancouver Sun]

🏗️ Another day, another rental housing announcement! Development at 1188 Cardero St. has changed from a residential to a rental building, with the proposal including 198 secured purpose-built rental homes and 161 market rental units. [Urbanized]

🔥 Summer is almost here… And unfortunately so is wildfire season. There are already dozens of fires throughout the province, and the provincial government says it’s going to be a “challenging” season this year, with persistent drought conditions throughout BC. [CBC]

⛺️ Pro-Palestinian encampments popping up throughout US schools have arrived in BC. A group of students have set up an encampment at UBC’s MacInnes Field. [Vancouver Sun]

🪧 A boycott of Loblaws grocery stores begins today. The largest grocery chain in the country has become the target of customers’ ire as inflation has pushed prices and profits up. [CTV]

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May 13 - Finger Picking and Folk Guitar
May 20 - Funk Guitar
June 3 - Rock and Roll and Blues Guitar
June 10 - Don't Fear the Theory for Guitar

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ARTS

🎭️ Don’t miss out on Jann Arden and Rick Mercer on their tour around Canada. The show promises to be a “free wheeling, unscripted, unrehearsed and unrestrained discussion.” The show will be at The Centre in Vancouver on May 27

🎼 Don’t miss out on Yo-Yo Ma, and many others, from the Vancouver Recital Society’s list of events and musicians.

🎼 Vancouver Opera’s Carmen is getting rave reviews. You can catch it on May 2, 4 and 5. [Stir]

🎥 VIFF has a great slate of movies this week, including Love Lies Bleeding, Drive-Away Dolls, The Taste of Things, and my personal favourite Perfect Days.

🎥 Rio is also showing Perfect Days, along with Star Wars Episode IV, Zone of Interest and Late Night with the Devil.

🎥 DOXA, the documentary film festival, is on from May 2-12, with an expansive list of movies from around the world.

🖼️ The Griffin Arts Project gallery is featuring a show called The Prop House: A Collection of One Million Objects from May 18-Aug. 18 which features an exhibition of film props. [Vancouver is Awesome]

PHOTO OF THE DAY

What a great photo of the Railway Yards at Waterfront Station!

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Still no word on viewing parties in Vancouver. Luckily Burnaby seems more willing! [Vancouver is Awesome]

• Subscribe to our free food newsletter instantly by clicking here so you can discover new places to eat in Vancouver.

• Here’s a helpful list of food events happening in May. [Vancouver Magazine]

• The not-so-boring boring tunnel completed the Broadway Subway on Friday, finishing at the future Arbutus Station. [Urbanized]

• There will be detours on Stanley Park Drive by Brockton Point from 8 am-3 pm until May 10 on weekdays, as parks staff deal with the hemlock moth infestation. [Twitter]

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GAME TIME

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