The courtyard of BC Place Stadium that serves as the backyard for Columbia Academy private elementary school has been blocked off with a three-metre-high metal fence ahead of seven World Cup games.
Security preparations are underway across downtown Vancouver, with the fenced courtyard being one of the most visible signs. Terry Fox Plaza outside the stadium will remain cordoned off throughout the tournament.
School Relocates for Match Days
Principal Brittany Conlon said the closure of Beatty Street means students will relocate to the academy's high school location, a 15-minute walk away, on match days.
"We've been planning since September and met organizers in February to go over details," she said. "A lot of families are driving in from Richmond, Burnaby, and East Vancouver, and they'd want to completely avoid this area."
Students will walk to downtown parks for recess and gym classes while the plaza remains closed.
Road Closures Affect Area
Workers, students, and businesses in the area have spent months preparing for road closures. A stretch of busy Pacific Boulevard alongside the stadium has already shut down to traffic.
Tens of thousands of soccer fans are expected for World Cup games, and organizers have released maps showing which roads will be open to local traffic only and which will be closed completely.
Local Businesses Brace for Impact
Next to the school, Aquariums West will be closed on game days. Co-owner Kreig Leblanc said losing seven days' worth of customers could mean a significant hit to the small business.
"We polled customers in December, and pretty much unanimously, they said they weren't interested in coming to the shop on game days," he said.
The store has operated at the location next to Terry Fox Plaza for 16 years. While regular CFL and Major League Soccer games draw customers, large events with increased restrictions are different.
"(With Taylor Swift) we had a whole weekend that was just a write-off because people didn't come," Leblanc said. "FIFA is sort of an exaggerated version of that. Unfortunately, for a small business, seven days of lost revenue is a huge hit."