Downtown businesses optimistic Pedestrian Zone can maintain World Cup momentum
Posted July 18, 2026 10:40 am.
With the World Cup ending, but the Granville Pedestrian Zone continuing, what can locals expect?
“We’ll see more street traffic here, it’s just a more friendly place to gather,” said Dave Kershaw, owner, Cabana Nightclub.
As memories of daily FIFA festivities fade into a blur of smoke bombs and chants in foreign languages –
What remains are questions about what the future of the Granville Pedestrian Zone will look like.
While the five-block pedestrian zone’s last day was originally slated to be Sunday, nearly $5 million in funding from the city now means that vehicle traffic won’t be coming back to this stretch of Granville Street until September.
But even without the world watching businesses are hopeful the positive energy that made this one of Vancouver’s biggest World Cup wins is here to stay.
“It’s been a huge lift; I think we were up 250 per cent from the previous June. It’s the best month we’ve ever had financially in 13 years of being here, so it was a massive success. Massive,” said Kershaw.
Dave Kershaw owns a Cabana Nightclub on the strip. He says the renewed focus on policing and cleanliness is what’s made the area a viable tourist destination, something that funding is meant to prolong.
“Prior to the World Cup, I mean, there was a lot of street disorder, open drug use is a main concern, it really gives people the wrong impression of what an entertainment zone should look like, but really, with the pedestrian zone closed and the celebrations going on, the amount of people coming down to enjoy Granville for what it’s meant to be, a place to gather, has been night and day.”
“Hopefully that continues when the World Cup is over fully, and the zone can remain normal and safe,” said Ronan O’Hagan, bar manager for Dublin Calling.
O’Hagan says even as the tournament winds down, he’s still seeing more business than he did last summer.
“Non-game days, people are just out and about, want to sit out, have a drink, have some food.”
“I know World Cup added to a lot of the buzz, but I still think if you did this every summer, it would be great.”
Up to $1.2 million in municipal money has been earmarked for the local business improvement association to keep the good times rolling.
“It is not cheap to pedestrianize a street.” FLASH “We will have live music, we will have buskers, we will have live performances,” said Jane Talbot with Downtown Vancouver BIA.
Talbot also says that there will be more initiatives to support different kinds of businesses, like retailers and by prioritizing safety and cleanliness, she anticipates being able to convince people to come out all summer long.
“Really, our intention is to make sure that people come down, enjoy the street, always have something to see, always have something to do.”
And while nobody is expecting to replicate World Cup crowds, local businesses do hope the extension can help them round out their rainy day funds.
