The FIFA Fan Fest was not the only place in Vancouver celebrating Canada’s opening match on Friday, as the Granville Pedestrian Zone officially opened in time for kick-off.
The pedestrian zone was transformed into a sea of red and white, with thousands of people making their way downtown, all hoping to see Team Canada clinch their first victory at the FIFA World Cup.
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“I know we’re missing our star player today, but hopefully other players can play a great game. We’ll watch how it kind of goes. Go Canada, Go Canada,” said one fan.
“We’ve got to believe, got to give it a shot. And yeah, all we can ask for is a good game,” said another.
The five-block stretch of Granville Street, between Georgia Street and Davie Street, will be closed to cars and buses until July 19.
The area will serve as a family-friendly destination, with expanded patios, public seating, and plenty of interactive installations.
While this transformation of Granville Strip is temporary, the mayor did hint that this could serve as a preview for what the future of the entertainment district could look like.
“Don’t be surprised if you see a lot of conversations with the City and local businesses to really focus on what worked well, what didn’t and how we can incorporate the best of what you see here today into the future,” Mayor Ken Sim said.
He did not get into specifics, but for the business owners that we spoke with, they have been overjoyed with what they have seen so far.
“What they have done here, created something for everybody, something for all ages, and we really hope this is going to push us not just through this FIFA World Cup, but into the summer and into the years to come,” Peter Raptis, owner of Pawnshop YVR, told CityNews.
“Yesterday our patios were full from open to close; we have two locations, Shamrocks on Granville and Nelson, and Donnellan’s on Helmcken and Granville, and both were filled inside and out; in particular, the patios have been a huge help,” said William Donnellan, president of Donnellan’s Irish Pub.
Team Canada may have had to settle for a draw in their opening match, but on Granville Street, the pedestrian zone looks like a major win for fans and businesses alike.
