‘A huge disappointment’: B.C. Sports Hall of Fame has to shut down during the FIFA World Cup
The hall is located inside B.C. Place and FIFA has full control of the building for two months starting May 14
By Steve Ewen
Last updated 6 hours ago
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The B.C. Sports Hall of Fame won’t benefit from a Vancouver downtown core overflowing with soccer fans during the World Cup tournament’s seven games here this summer.
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That’s because the hall, which is inside B.C. Place, is required to shut down for two months beginning May 14 as part of FIFA taking over control of the building, leaving six people without jobs for that period.
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The hall was closed on game days when B.C. Place hosted nine 2015 Women’s World Cup matches but was open during the rest of the tournament’s stay here. FIFA also paid the hall a standard day rate rental on those game days. Curator Jason Beck confirms there’s no financial compensation for the hall shutting its doors to the public this time.
Beck says he’s been told that the hall will be used as a media centre during this World Cup stay in Vancouver. The first game action at B.C. Place is June 13, when Australia meets Turkey. Canada takes on Qatar at the stadium on June 18.
“This is massive missed opportunity. Whether we themed the Hall of Fame around soccer or not, you have a captive audience there,” said Beck, who’s worked at the hall since 2003 and been its curator since 2006. “Whenever I visit a city anywhere, I’m always looking to see what Hall of Fame or sports museum is near us, as well as trying to tie in watching a local team play. That’s how I am and I think it’s how a lot of sports fans are.
“It’s a huge disappointment.”
Beck says that he’s a received several phone calls from organizations wanting to partner on an exhibition or have someone from the hall come give a talk in the community during the World Cup. Neither is possible, since he and the two other full-time staff and three part-timers are all taking layoffs during the World Cup to help cut costs.
“We can’t do any of that now,” Beck said of the hall work during the World Cup.
Beck did praise PavCo, saying that the Crown corporation that runs B.C. Place has tried to be creative and help out. He didn’t get into specifics other than to say that they can’t offer anything financially. It’s easy to guess that’s tied to the Vancouver Whitecaps’ current situation.
Beck has been working mostly throughout this process with B.C. Place assistant general manager Jenna Visram and says “Jenna’s so busy that she’s got three phones, but whenever I call she puts whatever I’m asking about as a priority.”
Requests for comment from FIFA have yet to be returned. PavCo sent a written statement on the hall situation that said: “FIFA has full exclusivity over B.C. Place as of May 14 and all decisions around the stadium and access are theirs from that date until the tournament is over in July.”
