After fans crash Copa America final, security concerns for B.C.’s World Cup games

With nan timepiece ticking down connected nan 2026 FIFA World Cup, security experts opportunity location are cardinal lessons to study from shocking scenes astatine nan Copa America last connected Sunday.

The title lucifer betwixt Argentina and Colombia was delayed for much than an hr aft thousands of ticketless fans stormed nan Hard Rock Stadium successful Miami, trying to unit their measurement successful done aerial vents and complete fences.

In little than 2 years, Vancouver’s BC Place is slated to play big to 7 games successful nan men’s World Cup, and information is expected to beryllium cardinal interest and awesome costs driver.

Security master Jim Hayes pinch Guidepost Solutions said planners should support nan scenes successful Miami successful mind arsenic they cogwheel up for those games.

“The 1 point we are still learning astir successful nan United States is nan passion that these world shot fans bring to these matches, erstwhile you are pitting countries against each other,” he said

“We are going to person to summation nan information floor plan for these types of events and dainty them arsenic what they are, they are world events pinch monolithic magnitude and reach.”

In a connection Monday, B.C.’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport said it was moving pinch nan City of Vancouver, Vancouver constabulary and RCMP.

“BC Place is simply a world-renowned event-hosting venue and has a agelong history of safe arena delivery. Many elaborate plans are taking style pinch regards to crowd management, and nan preparations for nan flows we expect astatine nan FWC26,” it said.

In April, nan B.C. authorities revealed that nan costs to big nan World Cup had fundamentally doubled and were estimated astatine betwixt $483 cardinal and $581 million. The financial implications of tourney information stay unclear, and nan national authorities has said information will beryllium among nan services it provides.

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FIFA is expected to enforce overmuch stricter policies than Copa America, meaning higher information costs.

“Premier (John) Horgan was worried astir a blank cheque, and you are starting to spot immoderate of nan worries travel true,” BC United Finance Critic Peter Milobar told Global News.

One facet that could further complicate Vancouver’s information concerns is nan location of BC Place Stadium successful nan centre of nan city’s downtown core.

“You’ve sewage monolithic some conveyance and pedestrian traffic, and it becomes overmuch much difficult because you could conscionable beryllium driving down nan thoroughfare and boom, you’re correct adjacent to nan venue,” Hayes said.

“There are decidedly greater challenges pinch securing that type of venue than erstwhile you tin create a buffer zone.”

Hayes added that nan increasing size and complexity of awesome arena information requires an progressively ample workforce, thing venues are struggling to combine astatine a value they tin afford.

Vancouver will big its first crippled connected June 18, 2026.