Tickets are scheduled to go on sale September 10 for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, but tourists hoping to see games in Vancouver might want to book hotel rooms early.
The tournament kicks off June 6, 2015, in Edmonton. Vancouver hosts the first two of its nine scheduled games on June 8, 2015, at BC Place stadium. Downtown accommodation will be at a premium while the Vancouver Convention Centre hosts the 2015 World Congress of Dermatology from June 8 to 13, 2015. Tourism Vancouver estimates it will draw 15,000 delegates.
“We’ve had to be part of the negotiation and brokering of some of those hotel rooms, to be sure that there are enough rooms secured not only for FIFA and the teams and the officials and so on, but we want places for people to stay as well,” Tourism Vancouver vice-president Walt Judas said. “The spectators, of course it depends where they’re staying and which hotels, it’s also peak season – cruise ship season, we’re at the height of the summer. June is our fourth-busiest month of the year, so you’re going to pay rates commensurate with the time of the year.”
Canada 2015 will feature a record 24 teams in 52 matches, culminating in the July 5, 2015, final at BC Place.
At Germany 2011, there were 16 teams playing 32 matches.
Canada, the automatically qualified host and London 2012 Olympics bronze medallist, meets Germany in a June 18 friendly at BC Place. Reigning champion Japan also visits Vancouver in October.
Organizers announced tickets would go on public sale in packages, excluding tickets for the final. Tickets range from $80 for four games in the highest sections to $395 for the top ticket category for eight matches.
The tournament draw will be in December at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec.
Canada hosted one Under-20 World Cup for women in 2002 and another for men in 2007. The 2014 Women’s Under-20 World Cup is scheduled to take place in August in Toronto, Montreal, Moncton and Edmonton.
The B.C. government was represented at the June 6 one-year countdown clock unveiling ceremony by Attorney General Suzanne Anton.
Asked whether she, the province’s top cop, was concerned that FIFA legal troubles – over match-fixing and bribery, among other allegations – could have an effect on Canada 2015, Anton said, “We’re a secure country and we’re a trustworthy country. I know that this event will be well run. As to what’s going on in the rest of the world, I’m not going to comment on that, but I will say we do have a very good reputation in Canada and a well-deserved reputation.”
Last year, the Canadian Soccer Association said the tournament would cost more than $70 million, which includes $15 million from the federal government, $2 million from each of the host provinces and $1.5 million shared by the six host cities.
Anton said she was not certain whether the $2 million from B.C. taxpayers was capped. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson anticipated there would be other civic costs for policing the event.
“There aren’t any figures before council yet; it’s premature right now to know exactly what that would be,” Robertson said. “I’m sure they’ll come to council in the months ahead prior to the tournament so we get an understanding about what costs there are.” •
