From his 17th-floor apartment across False Creek from B.C. Place, Keith Morgan expects he will have one of the best views of World Cup festivities next month.

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

But as the city prepares to close dozens of nearby streets and restrict access around the stadium on the tournament’s seven match days, the Vancouver resident says excitement over the global event is increasingly being matched by concern about how people living and working near the venue will navigate daily life.

For those near B.C. Place, the World Cup brings both buzz and strain Back to video

“My biggest concern is the level of congestion outside my home,” said Morgan, who noted that his home road, Quebec Street, will be temporarily closed to non-local traffic.

“It’s going to be tough for an Amazon addict like me,” Morgan joked.

With just six weeks to go until kickoff, the city is gearing up to welcome an estimated 350,000 visitors into downtown over seven matches from June 13 to July 7, with locals to face packed streets outside their homes and no mail or food deliveries on game days.

This week, residents like Morgan received a “What You Need To Know” flyer from the city’s organizing committee encouraging people to “walk, bike or take advantage of extra transit service” during the games. It also said residents on restricted streets will be mailed a “local access traffic pass” next week, with businesses affected also able to request a pass.

Recently, event planning officials have been hosting virtual community information sessions for the community, encouraging residents and businesses to plan for delays and road closures.

“I would have liked to have seen more consultation from FIFA organizers with strata councils of buildings most affected, rather than a ‘this is what we are going to do’ approach,” Morgan said.

Unlike stadiums in several other World Cup host cities, Vancouver’s sits directly in the downtown core, surrounded by residential towers, offices and businesses.

1. Advertisement 1

   Story continues below

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

In a briefing on Wednesday, B.C. Place general manager Chris May said a “significant stadium footprint” will be in effect during the World Cup period. Pacific Boulevard between Cambie Street and Carrall Street will be closed from mid-May to late July, with closures on dozens of nearby roads on match days.

The Vancouver Host Committee says the controlled area is required by FIFA to maintain emergency access and manage crowds around the stadium during the tournament.

“The city is responsible for maintaining clear access for emergency services, teams, officials, volunteers, and fans throughout the tournament period. This approach is standard for major international events,” the committee’s website states.

Across downtown, post-secondary institutions are also preparing for travel delays.

Staff at Simon Fraser University were warned this week that “significant disruptions” will likely affect classrooms at its downtown campus during the sporting event.

In an email to instructors in the university’s faculty of arts and social sciences, university officials encouraged them to plan ahead, including shifting classes or exams online, particularly on match days.

“Increased downtown traffic, major road closures, and detours, including the two-kilometre ‘controlled area’, will cause heavy congestion,” it read. “If your faculty have classes or exams during games, we strongly encourage rescheduling or moving locations.”

Tony Gioventu, executive-director of the Condominium Home Owners Association of B.C., said some local residents have been looking for ways to leave the city during the World Cup — and try to rent out their condos while they are away.

“We’ve been seeing a lot of requests for Airbnb rules to be relaxed for specific buildings,” he said, noting growing pressure from some owners seeking flexibility around short-term rental rules.

Gioventu said some downtown apartment buildings are already gearing up for the crowds by bringing in extra security and concierge staff.

“There is going to be a lot of disruptions with an event this size at their doorstep.”

He added that some condo strata councils have set up a direct line to organizing committee officials in case issues come up during the tournament. Some residents have asked that service workers such as plumbers or electricians still be able to drive to their building and respond to emergency calls.

Ali Azimi, who lives in an apartment building on the Quebec Street route to B.C. Place, said he is happy to accept a road closure outside his home.

“I think the benefit for our city is much higher than what it will cost us,” he said. “I will just stick to walking on match days.”

For MyZonePrinting, a commercial printer on West Pender near the restricted zone, the temporary World Cup road closures will create “a huge problem,” said owner Salim Lakhani.

“We ship out from FedEx and UPS daily, anywhere from 10 to 100 packages,” Lakhani said, adding that if access to the building’s back parking lot through Abbott and Carrall streets is blocked, deliveries may only be possible by a limited back-alley route from East Hastings.

“We have to send out shipments on time, or else we could lose customers.”

At Jack Chow Insurance, on Carrall Street near the stadium footprint, owner Rod Chow says the World Cup is a net positive, even if it comes with some familiar headaches for local businesses.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “It will be a party atmosphere, which will bring tourism to local Chinatown businesses.”

Chow added he is prepared to adjust day-to-day operations for the tournament, including planning mail deliveries for non-match days to avoid disruption.

“We managed during the 2010 Winter Olympics, and we will manage again.”