Vancouver World Cup businesses report 20% revenue drop despite city's economic promise

Vancouver restaurants and bars that invested heavily in preparation for the World Cup are reporting disappointing sales, saying the promised economic surge never arrived.

Susanna Ng, owner of New Town Bakery and Restaurant in Chinatown for 46 years, said sales fell in June—something barely remembered in her tenure running the establishment. The first match-day weekend was so quiet she sent servers home early. Ng lived through Expo 86 and the 2010 Winter Olympics, when visitors spread throughout the city and Chinatown felt busier.

In May, Mayor Ken Sim called hosting FIFA World Cup games "a once-in-a-generation opportunity to generate immediate economic benefits for Vancouver." Sports bars and venues near Granville Street and official fan areas did see strong traffic, but many other businesses did not.

At Chambar, a Belgian restaurant steps from BC Place, owner Karri Green hosted screenings and after-parties for Belgium matches but saw no rush. She estimated revenues were down about 20 percent compared with a normal summer. Road closures and traffic restrictions added to the challenge, as businesses often got details late. Two blocks away at Fanny Bay Oyster Bar & Shellfish Market, staff put up screens, listed the venue as a watch-party spot, and scheduled extra shifts—but the expected push never came.

Andrew Zimbalist, an American sports economist, said this pattern is common at mega-events. Host cities may attract soccer fans while losing regular visitors who avoid crowds, congestion, higher prices, or security concerns—a dynamic known as "crowding out." Media reports of sky-high hotel prices kept visitors away months before the tournament, even as rooms remained available.