Achi news desk-
Hosting seven games in Vancouver during the 2026 World Cup could cost more than half a billion dollars, according to an updated estimate provided Tuesday.
The “core cost” of hosting now stands at between $483 million and $581 million — roughly double the original range provided when Vancouver was selected as a host city two years ago.
Inflationary pressures and updated FIFA hospitality requirements have contributed to increased costs, BC’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport said.
Officials also originally expected to host five games in Vancouver, not seven.
The government expects to offset much of the cost with $116 million in federal funding, increased tax revenue over several years and other sources, putting the net cost at between $100 million and $145 million, according to the latest estimate.
“These seven games are expected to attract more than 350,000 football fans,” Tourism Minister Lana Popham said on Tuesday. “These fans are going to eat, they’re going to stay, and they’re going to explore British Columbia — before, during and after this tournament.”
The ministry also expects more than a billion more visitors to arrive over a five-year period after the World Cup.
Not everyone is convinced that the expected benefits will materialize – including Moshe Lander, a sports economist from Concordia University, who described the event as “a very expensive two-week party.”
“It doesn’t justify the economic benefits,” Lander said. “Vancouver is a world city. It’s beautiful, it attracts tourists, it’s always full – it can’t be more full by hosting a few World Cup games.”
It’s common for governments to massively overstate the benefits and underestimate the costs when considering these types of hosting obligations, the economist said – but ultimately, whether the World Cup is worth the price is up to taxpayers.
“It’s no different than saying you want to use your public money to build a new park or a new arena,” Lander said. “This is what taxpayers are asked: how do you want to use your tax dollars?”
About half of the estimated costs fall on the city of Vancouver, which is now expected to contribute at least $246 million.
Mayor Ken Sim – a soccer fan who is flying to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup – described the event as a “huge opportunity” to “highlight the best city on the planet,” which will contribute to Vancouver’s reputation as a major tourism and events destination for decades to come.
“We couldn’t be more excited,” Sim said. “I think it’s going to be great for the city, the county and the state.”
The provincial government is contributing between $237 million and $305 million, most of which will come from the Crown BC Pavilion Corporation that owns and operates BC Place.
The venue will be required to undergo several upgrades, including the dressing rooms, broadcast facilities and select hospitality spaces.
Much of the cost-offsetting revenue comes from BC’s large 2.5 per cent municipal and regional event tax on tourist accommodation, which comes into effect in February 2023 and is expected to bring in $230 million over seven years.
Officials acknowledged that there are factors beyond their control that will affect the amount of money generated through the World Cup – including which teams are scheduled to play in Vancouver, and whether FIFA imposes additional requirements when it comes to venue requirements.
With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Penny Daflos
