FIFA World Cup games to bring road closures around Vancouver’s BC Place

Downtown Vancouver will be jammed with tourists and soccer fans next summer for FIFA World Cup games, and BC Place will be the centre of the biggest crush.

Residents and businesses are being warned that the events will also mean road closures and restrictions.

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People living in the area were invited to an online information session Thursday night, where the city’s FIFA World Cup 26 host committee explained what they can expect.

“We have a very unique stadium footprint. If you live near BC Place, you know that there are businesses and residences adjacent and right beside BC Place,” said committee lead Jessie Adcock, who added that the stadium is one of the most urban venues in next summer’s tournament.

“It’s a very unique selling feature, but operationally, that is very challenging. So these road closures are required to enable that stadium footprint.”

The ‘footprint” includes a huge fan festival area called “the last mile,” which will be open to locals and visitors.

“The stadium build-out will begin early next year. The stadium operates much differently than it does for, say, Whitecaps games. The stadium will expand outside of its normal perimeter and across the streets.”

But Adcock stressed that businesses and residences will remain open.

“There is no expectations that businesses will close. Walking and wheeling access will be generally maintained to every affected business and residence in this area. Emergency services will always have access, as well.”

The committee says TransLink will also be offering “enhanced” transit service on match days to support travel to and from BC Place.

A stretch of Pacific Boulevard will remain closed for the duration of the June 11 to July 19 tournament between Cambie Street and Carrall Street, with some adjacent restrictions for all but local traffic.

Those closures and restrictions will expand for blocks on the seven match days at BC Place, which are scheduled for June 13, 18, 21, 24, 26 and July 2 and 7 to accommodate the crowds descending on the venue.

“The ‘last mile’ journey is really all of the roads leading to Pacific and BC Place Stadium, which will operate very uniquely for the World Cup,” said Adcock.

“Beatty Street will not be the main entrance for spectators. If you’ve gone to a Whitecaps game or another event at BC Place, you might come down Robson Street and enter off Terry Fox Plaza. For the World Cup, every spectator with a ticket will enter the stadium on Pacific Boulevard.”

The challenge, says Adcock, will be bringing everyone down to the lower street level outside the stadium to the temporary World Cup entrance.

“You can foresee this journey starting at the Yaletown Canada Line Station on the west and Main Street-Science World Station on the east.”

The committee says final planning is underway for the last mile around the stadium, as well as “dressing” for the rest of the city.

“This will really create that ambiance in Vancouver. When you come into the city, it will look and feel like a World Cup city, so we are very excited about this.”