UMVA has learned that FIFA has released its prices for parking at Toronto Stadium (BMO Field) for the upcoming World Cup games, and they are nothing short of astonishing.
For fans who need to utilize accessible parking, the cost will be a staggering $74.99, which includes all fees and taxes. This eye-watering price tag is for Lot 2, located to the south of the stadium, and fans will have to pre-purchase their parking passes through FIFA's website, with a valid match ticket required to complete the purchase.
The price and availability for standard parking have yet to be announced, but fans are already reeling from the news of the accessible parking costs. To put this into perspective, BMO Field's website lists the game day rate during Toronto FC games at $30, and $25 for Toronto Argonauts games, with a standard price of $15.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that fans in Toronto might actually be getting off easy with the $75 price tag, as parking prices at other venues are shockingly higher. In Vancouver, the rate is the same, but in some U.S. locations, prices are as high as $300 to park and can be up to a 30-minute walk from the stadium.
In San Francisco, lots are listed at $137.95 and $203.45, with estimated walks of 14-21 minutes from the stadium. The biggest price tag of all is in Los Angeles, where parking for the match between the U.S. and Paraguay can be found for $300 and is located 2.7 km away.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that several hundred tickets remain for Canada's opening match, but prices haven't dropped on FIFA's official ticket sales portal. Category 1 tickets remain priced at $3,135 each, with many full rows of seats available in sections, while Category 2 seats cost $2,300 and the Category 3 "cheap seats" are listed at $1,370.
For fans looking to avoid the extra headaches of traffic and parking on matchday, Metrolinx says it will increase GO Transit train service on the Lakeshore West line during FIFA World Cup matches. The TTC is also planning to increase service on its lines, with frequent 15-minute service throughout most of the day on both the Lakeshore East and West lines starting on June 10.
