Affording World Cup tickets, which are already at an unprecedented price, is one thing. Then there’s being able to afford the eye-watering Cup parking costs — which are also at an unprecedented level.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

• Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
• Get exclusive access to the Vancouver Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
• Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
• Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
• Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

• Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
• Get exclusive access to the Vancouver Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
• Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
• Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
• Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

• Access articles from across Canada with one account.
• Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
• Enjoy additional articles per month.
• Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

• Access articles from across Canada with one account
• Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
• Enjoy additional articles per month
• Get email updates from your favourite authors

Sign In or Create an Account

or View more offers

When early parking passes for U.S. games went on sale through the official FIFA parking website, they could be had for $105. They have now ballooned to an average of $243.

FIFA World Cup: Given those expensive game tickets, will Vancouver avoid massive parking costs? Back to video

In Vancouver, official parking passes have yet to be opened up on the FIFA website.

Postmedia News reached out to two of the main parking providers in Vancouver — EasyPark and Impark — and this is what we learned: 

What to expect in Vancouver for Cup parking

EasyPark, the corporate entity the City of Vancouver uses to manage its parking, said it wouldn’t be increasing its rates during the tournament. They range from $15.50 to $42 on event days, sometimes lower if booking through the app.

“We plan to maintain standard event rates on match days and regular rates on non-event days. At this time, we are not planning to implement surge pricing during the FIFA World Cup,” said Ravinder Bains, EasyPark’s director of client services. “Vancouver has a strong supply of parking inventory across the downtown core. While (parking) lots closest to the stadiums will naturally fill first, there is ample capacity available nearby. Overall, downtown Vancouver will have more than enough parking availability during the FIFA World Cup.”

Impark was less committal with its response, but pointed to the recent stop at B.C. Place by megastar Taylor Swift, when they kept their prices in line with the norm. Their event pricing ranges from $35 to $60 for parking close to the stadium.

“We have not yet finalized the price for parking for the FIFA games this summer,” said Robert Finkelstein, Impark executive vice-president. “As parking is rarely something that is purchased well ahead of time (such as flight, hotels and car rentals), there is no urgency to lock in future rates. That said, Impark believes in fair pricing and, as we did for the Eras Tour, Impark takes pride in making pricing recommendations to our clients to maintain relatively consistent parking rates and to avoid price gouging.”

1. Advertisement 1

   Story continues below

   This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Impark will monitor “local market indicators and market demand from other host cities to better anticipate the parking demand this summer,” he said.

There are passes listed on StubHub for Impark lots close to the stadium for the opening Turkey-Australia game June 13, ranging from $111 at the Plaza of Nations to $306 for the Pivotal Building. The Canada-Switzerland game 10 days later is just $86 and $67 for the same locations.

Cup parking costs south of the border

In Los Angeles, the official passes range between $350 and $417, all figures in US dollars, for all the games. New York started at $313, going up to $556 for the final. If you’re in Houston and have an oversized vehicle, like a camper van or bus, expect to shell out between $550 and $974.

Heading to Seattle? Sorry to inform you that all the official passes, which required a valid match-day ticket to purchase, are sold out.

But just like the tickets to games themselves, there is an active aftermarket for parking passes. A tip for those heading to Lumen Field to watch any games: Check out listings for locals who are renting out their driveways or parking spots.

Passes for the FIFA-affiliated lots are still pricey — $1,047 for a playoff-round spot. But private vendors in the area are selling for as low as $22, according to vivideseats.com.

StubHub is listing resale parking passes as well. A spot for the Round-of-16 game at Lumen Field, in the Mariners Garage, can be yours for just $2,356. In L.A., a place for the U.S. versus Paraguay group stage match, will set you back $2,649.

The car-centric nature of this North American Cup hasn’t sunk in with many of the overseas visitors, who are unaware that the stadiums might be kilometres out from the host cities, with limited public transport.

Foxborough will be a nightmarish hours-long drive for those visiting Boston. There will be dedicated trains headed to the stadium on game days, with a capacity to transfer up to 30,000 fans, according to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, but those tickets aren’t much cheaper, at $104 a round trip.

Beware of local road closures

But a word of caution for those seeking to buy in advance. Road closures on game days will complicate matters.

Granville Street will be converted to a pedestrian-only zone during the tournament, further increasing vehicle pressure on the other routes. The off-ramp from the Cambie Bridge will be closed, as well as the stretches of Pacific Boulevard, Griffiths Way and Expo Boulevard that surround the stadium.

Road closures extend well into Chinatown and all the way to Main Street along Pacific Boulevard. As well, the World Cup Host Committee indicated that many of the parking lots immediately adjacent to B.C. Place will be used for stadium-specific activities for the duration of the tournament, while other parkades will be utilized on match days by FIFA for its clients.

There will be no pedestrian access into B.C. Place from SkyTrain’s Expo Line Stadium-Chinatown Station or from the Canada Line’s Yaletown-Roundhouse Station. Transit-users arriving at Main Street will be directed to the “last-mile pedestrian area,” a path from Quebec Street to Pacific Boulevard.

Both Impark and EasyPark also said there are limited spots available downtown, and they expected them to fill quickly. Every email response from local Cup organizers regarding transportation on match days has included a variation on the advice to leave your car at home. Walk, bike or take transit.

Other options, besides ride-hailing, include micromobility services such as Lime Scooters or Mobi bikes.

During February’s Winter Olympics in Italy, Lime scooters logged more than 433,000 trips — a total of 840,000 kilometres — during the event.

Lime has been working with the City of Vancouver to map out their usage in what will be a heavily congested downtown core. Service has expanded to include 98 dedicated parking stations — 28 downtown — with service through Granville Island, Fairview, Mount Pleasant, Kensington-Cedar Cottage and Renfrew Collingwood.

“As our FIFA plans evolve, safety will remain fundamental to our service. Vancouver’s Lime program is built around designated parking stations, along with features like slow and no-ride zones, sidewalk detection and rider education tools to promote responsible riding and these tools will remain critical as we prepare for high-traffic events,” said community relations manager Clare Laverty.

Mobi deferred to city staff on what their Cup plans entailed.