Toronto forced to abruptly cancel FIFA Fan Festival on opening day
Toronto's FIFA Fan Festival didn't get off to the start organizers had hoped for on Thursday.
Thousands of fans gathered at Toronto's Fort York Historic Site to watch the opening group stage match between Mexico and South Africa, but were forced to leave after organizers cancelled the event at halftime due to severe weather in the area.
According to several attendees, there was little warning before the evacuation was announced, leaving many fans confused and searching for answers.
The City of Toronto later addressed the cancellation on social media.
"Out of an abundance of caution, the FIFA Fan Festival is being evacuated due to the risk of lightning in the area. The decision was not made lightly; however, safety is our utmost priority. The FIFA Fan Festival will not reopen tonight."
The fan festival had also been scheduled to show Thursday night's match between the Republic of Korea and Czechia, but the site remained closed for the rest of the evening.
The event is ticketed, with free general admission already sold out and premium packages going from $100 to $300 each.
The City of Toronto told blogTO that no refunds will be issued for fans who bought premium tickets for cancelled event.
"We understand this news is disappointing, but safety remains our top priority. The festival is a rain-or-shine event," a spokesperson for the city said.
Adam Laskaris
