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Fans disappointed over ticket, hotel costs during World Cup in Vancouver
Fans are turning to fan festival events as ticket prices top $2,000 and June hotel bookings are down 20 per cent, Destination Vancouver said.
On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, Destination Vancouver reported that June hotel bookings in the city are down 20 per cent compared to last year, mirroring challenges in other FIFA World Cup host cities.
Economic pressures including fuel costs and ticket prices reaching about $2,000 are discouraging attendance at the World Cup, making it an expensive event for fans to attend.
While the cruise industry expects a record 1.4 million passengers this year, air arrivals from the U.K., China, and Australia remain up, though the World Cup has not seen similar projections.
Fans are waiting until the last minute to finalize accommodations; some, like Chris Van Brockhoven, are pivoting to fan festivals after finding ticket costs prohibitive.
Destination Vancouver president and CEO Royce Chwin remains 'cautiously optimistic' that rooms will pick up over the next three weeks as the organization monitors booking pace before the June 11 start.