FIFA Fan Festival opens Thursday on PNE grounds with 70+ matches and 120+ artists
Free admission to the 28-day festival; beer runs $9.50–$10.50, food vendors and live entertainment throughout.
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The FIFA Fan Festival opens Thursday at Hastings Park and will run for 28 days through July 19, broadcasting 70+ live matches on outdoor screens and hosting 120+ artist performances across multiple stages.
Admission to the festival grounds is free. You can roam the grounds, watch matches on screens at the Park Stage and Vineyard, and catch performances all day. The festival opens at 10 a.m. Thursday and runs until 10 p.m. daily.
The centrepiece is the new 10,000-seat PNE Amphitheatre, a $183.7-million facility that will operate beyond the tournament. For the World Cup, three ticket options are available through TicketLeader: reserved seats ($100+), general admission lawn ($44.25), or general admission floor (free, first-come-first-served). Ticket holders get fast-track entry to the festival site. Reserved seat holders can come and go throughout the day and watch concerts and matches from their seats.
Beer prices at the express bar huts range from $9.50 to $10.50 for 355 millilitre cans. Five brands are available: Michelob Ultra ($9.50), Corona ($10.50), Stella Artois ($10.50), Stanley Park SunSetter Peach Wheat Ale ($9.50), and Northwest IPA ($10.50). Canned cocktails and seltzers cost $10.50–$14.00. Non-alcoholic options include Michelob Ultra Zero ($6.00), water ($4.75), and soft drinks ($5.00).
Food options span 32 vendors, including Peacock by Vij's, NUBA, La Taqueria, Riz Sushi, Japadog, and Rosie's Rotisserie, plus food trucks like Dos Amigos, Taco Nori, and The Mad Greek. Stalls are branded with soccer themes: "Sideline Slices," "Pitchside Poutine," and "Kickin' Chicken."
On game days, headliners and local artists perform between matches. On July 15, for example, TDM plays at 10 a.m., a semi-final broadcast at noon, Wolf Parade at 2:10 p.m., and Feist at 3:15 p.m.
According to the Vancouver Host Committee, the amphitheatre will be the heart of the city's World Cup experience. Expect thousands of visitors daily, especially during Canada's matches and knockout rounds.