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Toronto Backs Mostly Free Access to World Cup Fan Festival After Backlash

The mayor-ordered reversal aims to keep entry free by shifting costs to sponsorships plus premium tiers.

Overview

  • City staff, in a report released Wednesday, proposed making 15,600 of 20,000 daily general‑admission tickets free, with 500 more set aside at no cost for community groups.
  • Another 3,900 tickets would be sold as premium passes priced between $100 and $300, offering upgraded experiences to help fund the event.
  • Council is set to vote on the plan this week, with Mayor Olivia Chow urging approval to restore broad free entry.
  • The change follows last week’s $10 general‑admission proposal that drew pushback after earlier promises of free access.
  • Staff say fees were meant to cover security, medical and fire services, and operations, so the city will now seek private sponsorships and other revenue to avoid straining the $380 million hosting budget, while the festival runs June 11 to July 29 at Fort York and The Bentway.