A decision to bar fans from bringing their own water bottles into Toronto Stadium for this summer's FIFA World Cup has sparked a public backlash in the city, with Mayor Olivia Chow stepping into the fight. Chow said she would explore what the city of Toronto can do about the ban, leaving little doubt about where she stands. As far as she was concerned, she said, the measure was just a pure money grab.
The change marks a departure from how matches at the venue have traditionally worked. The stadium does have water fountains, but spectators have normally been allowed to carry bottles in with them. Only last week, in fact, the city was encouraging people to bring water bottles as a way to cope with what is expected to be one of the hottest summers in Canadian history, making the sudden reversal all the more jarring for fans.
Critics say the timing raises real safety questions. With temperatures expected to climb, opponents of the ban warned that the most significant danger would be leaving thousands of people in 30-degree or higher heat without drinking water on hand. The first World Cup game in Toronto is set for June 12th, when the temperature is forecast to reach 26 degrees but feel more like 31.
Some online have questioned whether commercial interests are driving the policy, speculating that it may be tied to FIFA's partnership with Coca-Cola, named as the exclusive supplier of water during the tournament. FIFA, for its part, did not say how much it planned to charge per bottle or which brands of water it would sell, saying only that prices would be consistent with other events held at each stadium.
Environmental advocates have raised a separate concern about waste. They noted that a stadium holding around 45,000 people will see many of them buying bottled water if they cannot bring their own, and that across six matches the total could climb to as many as a quarter of a million single-use plastic bottles, a striking figure for a single venue over the course of the tournament.
Defending the move, FIFA officials said bottles are already prohibited in some of its stadiums and that the organization wants to make the rules consistent. They argued the change would also help prevent injuries to players and attendees, and framed it partly as a matter of safety and security around projectiles. Officials added that a hydration plan is in place with the host city that could include misting and hydration stations, fans, cooling tents and more.
The water bottles are not the only items being turned away at the gates. FIFA said it is also banning costumes, food, balloons, inflatable balls and noise-making devices such as whistles or air horns. Any bag bigger than a fan's hand will need to be clear, and the governing body reminded supporters that body paint does not count as clothing, a list of restrictions that has only added to the grumbling among ticket holders heading to Toronto Stadium.