FIFA Fan Festival: A review

The city of Toronto provides a multitude of venues to watch the FIFA World Cup, but the FIFA Fan Festival at Fort York and Bentway is certainly one of the more intriguing destinations, as it is the only official venue designated by FIFA itself. I took a trip to the venue on Wednesday, June 24^th, to assess if it is indeed the place to be for the summer.

Accompanied by my little cousin, we headed to Union Station to catch one of the eastbound streetcars towards the grounds. After a 20-minute ride on the 509 streetcar and a short five-minute walk, we were at the entrance to the grounds at Fort York and Bentway. Now, even though this was easy, getting downtown on game day can be quite a challenge, as testified by friends who tried to make the same trip when Canada played.

While the actual lineup to get in looked like a 15-minute wait, luckily, we breezed in thanks to my media access pass.

Now, the grounds themselves are huge. Split into three areas, there is ample room to get your steps in.

While Section B is the main arena with a massive stage and many brand activations, Sections A and C are smaller, with Section A housing a large screen and food trucks, and Section C geared towards family activities and games, also with a large screen.

Now let’s talk about the atmosphere. To be honest, part of the reason why I chose to go on this Wednesday was because England, a traditional football superpower, was playing Ghana, a traditional African power, giving neutral fans like me the chance to hopefully see a heavyweight bout. Unfortunately, this game was dire, with the English failing to break down a stodgy Ghanaian defence. Moreover, there were not as many fans of either team as I expected, due to the 3:00 p.m. kickoff time.

The later game, which my cousin had convinced me to stay for, presented a much better atmosphere as Panama took on Croatia, with the Panamanians in full voice, probably because there was less pressure on them as a smaller side. They would eventually lose 1–0, but they brought the vibes, making Fort York and Bentway a solid option for an evening game, especially with the halftime entertainment by The Tenors.

Now, I know you might have heard the horror stories about food prices on social media, and I am here to confirm that the rumours are true: eating here is expensive. One slice of pizza from the on-site Pizza Nova was going for $11.00 Yes, that’s right. $11.00. While a cheese slice retails for $4.25 outside the grounds, the $11 price at Fort York and Bentway represents a 160% markup, which is, well… a lot, and let’s not talk about the $15 hot dogs.

There are deeper issues here as to who is responsible (FIFA or the vendors), but being prudent, we decided to skip the unreasonable prices and hold our appetites. (“There’s rice in the house.”)

Despite that, it is still a great atmosphere and one of the better places to watch the World Cup. Speaking to one reveller, Mariame highlighted how the Fan Festival provides a party atmosphere that other locations cannot match. The FIFA Fan Festival at Fort York and Bentway is open throughout the World Cup and features acts like Kardinal Offishall, Deborah Cox, and Down With Webster.

“The main stage hosts a revolving cast of musicians that few other venues can match. So, whether you’re dropping the kids off or enjoying a night out, the Fan Festival is the place to be.”

Transportation: Getting to the grounds is as easy as ABC. Just head down to Union Station, hop on 509 streetcar, and you’re there. Just be sure to allow extra travel time if Team Canada is playing. 10/10

Atmosphere: If Team Canada is playing, it’s going to be rowdy. Regardless of who is playing, the concert-like atmosphere and whoever is performing that day will bring vibes. 8/10

Pricing: While admission to the grounds has a tiered system, including a free option, the food prices absolutely destroy any goodwill. I recommend eating before or after your visit. 4/10

Other Entertainment: No one is touching the Fan Festival here. A main stage featuring concert appearances from acts like: Bedouin Soundclash, Kardinal Offishall, and French Montana is hard to beat. The third area, Section C, with activities for kids and younger fans, should also not be overlooked. 10/10