With one of the biggest international sporting events coming to Toronto next June and July, city residents can expect things to be much different across the city. Experts warn that things we might take for granted, like getting around in a timely fashion and scoring reservations to a nice restaurant, will likely be challenging. According to the City of Toronto, an estimated 300,000 people are expected to descend on the city from around the world. That’s more than the 250,000 visitors who arrived for Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Olympics and about the same amount of people who came through Toronto for Taylor Swift’s six sold-out shows in November 2024. Unlike Swift, though, the FIFA events will attract an even bigger global audience, according to Walid Hejazi, a professor and academic director at the Rotman School of Management. “With so many people crossing so many segments of society, I think it will be bigger than the Taylor Swift effect,” he told CTVNews.ca. “People were coming for a concert, while FIFA people will be coming for a week to 10 days and hopefully touring other parts of Canada.” That uptick in visitors will have a real impact on the local economy. Hejazi predicts that hotel prices are going to go up steeply because “occupancy is going to go through the roof.” “It’s going to be difficult getting reservations, particularly at great restaurants,” he said. “The people that come have money to spend so they’re going to be doing those things, like going to the best restaurants, staying at great hotels, and doing lots of things in addition to going to games.” That also means more workers will be needed to fill in roles in order to keep up with the demand, especially in hospitality. “It will create lots of temporary jobs because so many people are coming,” Hejazi added. “Restaurants and hotels are going to have to hire more people. Parking is going to be crazy, parking prices are going to go up. People are going to be renting cars to get around.” Toronto is set to host six matches, five in the group stage and one in the Round of 32. Canada will open its FIFA campaign against a European team, possibly Italy, on June 12 at BMO Field, which will be known during the World Cup as Toronto Stadium. As for getting around on public transit, David J. Roberts, associate professor in the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Toronto, said that the main challenge is having activities concentrated at the BMO Field and the fan park. “That will definitely create bottlenecks, for sure,” he said. However, Roberts doesn’t think it’s something the city can’t handle, especially if they plan for it, along with unexpected circumstances. After Game 7 of the World Series with the Blue Jays left many without adequate transit to get home, he hopes the city and transit system will consider planning for “expansive scenarios.” “It has to be top of mind,” said Roberts. “I’m sure it was unfortunate for the people who felt stranded at the end of a really disappointing Game 7 but at least it helped the city realize that there needs to be a little bit more contingency planning for our transit system.”
