Soccer-themed Compass Mini unveiled by TransLink as World Cup nears

TransLink unveiled some new FIFA-themed features as it gets ready for the biggest crowd surge the region has seen in years.

A limited-edition Compass product inspired by the beautiful game will go on sale this weekend, as TransLink prepares to ramp up service in Metro Vancouver for the World Cup.

The transit provider says there will be 10,000 of the ball-shaped keychains available for sale starting at 9 a.m. Saturday at Waterfront Station. Of those, 2,000 will be for concession fares and the remainder will be for adult fares.

In the past, these limited-edition releases have drawn long lineups and sold out quickly—leading to some eyebrow-raising resale prices on the secondary market.

TransLink’s plans for the World Cup include the addition of 600 additional bus trips daily, as well as dedicated shuttles between the Fan Festival at the PNE and two SkyTrain stations—Renfrew and 29^th Avenue. On days when the festival is on, buses will run every five minutes.

The SeaBus and SkyTrain will also be running more frequently during “peak match periods,” according to TransLink.