[just east of the creek]

How many UT Forum members are going to a game? I have been offered a pair, and I am thinking about it. I could take the GO in, the spectacle might be interesting. Although it does sound as if the game is not sold out (Not Canada, Not Germany) - i guess the ticket prices for even a small venue (more then Golds at a Leaf game but less then 4 figures ) is a deterrent, but it may just be more comfortable to find a La-Z -Boy and recline....do they come with a built in chiller, or is that just a fantasy?

 

[reinventingthewheel]

Article has a bunch of graphics and comparisons of ticket prices as % of income, avg price for last few tournaments, and a couple others. Big takeaway is FIFA is way too greedy and fans everywhere are getting ripped off. Guess this is what happens when the games are held where there’s a general tolerance for steep prices. People may not be paying and games aren’t selling out, sure, but in other regions there would be massive protests over this instead.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/fifa-ticket-prices-9.7212341

The real slap in the face is not fans getting ripped off, it’s the host cities getting ripped off.
None of FIFA’s massive revenue is taxable as it is a “non-profit” organization!

I’m a huge fan, I’ll be tuned into 3 out of every 4 games. But I’m hardly bothered I can’t see these games in person. What’s upsetting is the city has to make so many absurd accommodations and gets nearly zero benefit from it.

Sure, there will be plenty of tourists spending money outside of ticket purchases but Toronto had no shortage of tourism in the summer anyway. If anything, this will deter usual city visits that already generated some economic benefit for the city.

 

[Mihairokov]

I’m a huge fan, I’ll be tuned into 3 out of every 4 games. But I’m hardly bothered I can’t see these games in person.

When it was announced however many years ago that we would be hosting I was determined to get out to at least one match in person. I might still if some of the prices keep coming down but I actually don't think it's that big a deal if I miss out in seeing games in person. FIFA are a reprehensible organization and I can consume the matches and the event in public spaces without having to give them direct money.

Sure, there will be plenty of tourists spending money outside of ticket purchases but Toronto had no shortage of tourism in the summer anyway. If anything, this will deter usual city visits that already generated some economic benefit for the city.

I think it's displacing tourists who would usually visit in June/July and moving their trips to May/August, at least anecdotally from what I'm hearing and seeing. I know many who went out to BC early this year to avoid the World Cup mess in town.

 

[SubHuman]

I am hoping we learn from this World Cup and never again bid for the Olympics or any other global circus where the taxpayers and residents are expected to pay for much of the event, assume disruptions to transit and access, and the financial risks and liabilities, all the for the benefit of the organizers, hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops...

I find it jaw-dropping that the city secretly agreed to let FIFA stop other events and festivals in the city, including sports and non-sports ones that don't interfere in any way, for a period of almost the entire two months of June and July. (The last Toronto match is July 2nd). Why would the city have agreed to that? (as reported by both the Globe & Mail and CBC). The fact that the CBC needed to do access-to-information requests to find this out, shows the city knew it was wrong and didn't want that information to be public. As I saw this described elsewhwere -- FIFA-- "I must destroy everything so I can succeed."

 

[Tuscani01]

I find it jaw-dropping that the city secretly agreed to let FIFA stop other events and festivals in the city, including sports and non-sports ones that don't interfere in any way, for a period of almost the entire two months of June and July. (The last Toronto match is July 2nd). Why would the city have agreed to that? (as reported by both the Globe & Mail and CBC). The fact that the CBC needed to do access-to-information requests to find this out, shows the city knew it was wrong and didn't want that information to be public. As I saw this described elsewhwere -- FIFA-- "I must destroy everything so I can succeed."

Isn't Pride still happening during this period? And Luminato? I assume the events that were stopped relate to those in the FIFA fan zone and Exhibition Place (Ie. The Honda Indy). What events/festivals do you know of that have been pushed?

 

[SubHuman]

As previously mentioned in G&M article:

FIFA’s control over what events can happen in Toronto and Vancouver for the duration of the World Cup has led to some popular events being moved or cancelled...
Organizers for Pride Toronto, Toronto Jazz Festival, the Toronto Fringe Festival and North by Northeast said they’ve worked with the city to ensure their events are not affected.
Sharon Bollenbach, Toronto’s executive director of the FIFA World Cup, said the city had “extensive communication” with FIFA about other concurrent events, and worked with the organization to develop and vet a list of “all the festivals we value.”

 

[Tuscani01]

As previously mentioned in G&M article:

So no issue as they are all still happening...

 

[AlbertC]

FIFA just made a last minute change to ban reusable water bottles inside the stadium during games.

‘Pure money grab:’ Toronto mayor slams FIFA over World Cup water bottle ban

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says that FIFA’s decision to ban World Cup ticket holders from bringing reusable water bottles into stadiums amounts to a “pure money grab.”

www.cp24.com

 

[txlseries4]

FIFA just made a last minute change to ban reusable water bottles inside the stadium during games.

‘Pure money grab:’ Toronto mayor slams FIFA over World Cup water bottle ban

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says that FIFA’s decision to ban World Cup ticket holders from bringing reusable water bottles into stadiums amounts to a “pure money grab.”

www.cp24.com

Widespread outrage over this

‘A real health risk’: Fifa ban on reusable water bottles sparks anger among fans

Fifa has been accused of putting revenue ahead of fans’ health after banning reusable water bottles from being taken into World Cup stadiums

www.theguardian.com

 

[PurplePinky]

FIFA just made a last minute change to ban reusable water bottles inside the stadium during games.

‘Pure money grab:’ Toronto mayor slams FIFA over World Cup water bottle ban

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says that FIFA’s decision to ban World Cup ticket holders from bringing reusable water bottles into stadiums amounts to a “pure money grab.”

www.cp24.com

Can you not either take in an empty plastic water bottle and refill it in the washroom or purchase one bottle of water and refill that bottle?

Perhaps the hard shelled reusable could be tossed onto the field or into the crowd, thus becoming weaponized?

 

[txlseries4]

Can you not either take in an empty plastic water bottle and refill it in the washroom or purchase one bottle of water and refill that bottle?

Perhaps the hard shelled reusable could be tossed onto the field or into the crowd, thus becoming weaponized?

That's what they're saying, the ban is to prevent bottles from being thrown. Possible vendors would sell bottles of water but remove the cap before handing it over to a customer, or they just hand people plastic cups.

Here's what the policy says on the list of prohibited items on the Code of Conduct
"3.1.11. bottles, cups, jars, cans or any
other form of closed or capped
receptacle that may be thrown
or cause injury, as well as other
objects made of glass or any
other breakable material or
especially hard packages or
hard thermal boxes (for the
avoidance of doubt, reusable
water bottles may not be
brought into the Stadium);

From here: https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/50eba...FA-World-Cup-2026-Stadium-Code-of-Conduct.pdf

 

[Johnny Au]

This is just a ploy to boost sales of Dasani.

 

[Mihairokov]

This is just a ploy to boost sales of Dasani.

Well, it's about safety, of course, with the added benefit of forcing water sales in places where fans will be scorched for three hours.

 

[gabe]

This is just a ploy to boost sales of Dasani.

Yep, music festivals and concerts did that. I bought cheap Dasani from the dollar store that was sealed, and wasn't allowed to take it in. The price of a water bottle at the venue is inflated like 500% with respect to dollar store prices and creates thousands and thousands of plastic water bottle waste.

Laws need to be put in place. In hot summer weather people need water! All events and venues need to allow people to bring in refillable water bottles. And all venues must provide water refill stations FOR FREE to everyone who needs it.

 

[txlseries4]

Genuinely shocked they made a compromise about the ban.

World Cup 2026: Fifa says disposable water bottles can be brought into stadiums

Fifa says fans will be able to bring sealed disposable water bottles into World Cup stadiums following criticism over a decision to ban reusable bottles.

www.bbc.com

"Each spectator can bring with them one 20 ounce (560ml) soft, plastic disposable factory-sealed water bottle into the stadium," said World Cup 2026 chief operating officer, Heimo Schirgi.