‘We’re going to be packed’: World Cup boosts traffic to Toronto’s restaurants and bars

Toronto — The FIFA World Cup has brought a welcome surge in traffic to restaurants and bars.

Rocco Mastrangelo, Jr., co-owner of Café Diplomatico in the heart of Toronto’s Little Italy district, said the restaurant was going all out for the World Cup, despite the cold, and had a heated roof. Pitched a tent on the road next to the patio and adopted live music for Canada’s first game.

Wednesday’s game didn’t end with a win, but Mastrangelo Jr. said he was still excited about the World Cup games coming and hoped traffic would pick up for certain games.

Café Diplomatico is already fully booked for Sunday’s game between Canada and Croatia.

Fans flocked to Ottawa’s Glebe Central pub on Wednesday, standing shoulder to shoulder on the patio in the cold, said general manager Dave Hania.

“It was a really good match,” he said.

Chania said holiday season bookings are already picking up and the World Cup is keeping him very busy as it feels “business as usual” compared to past pandemic holiday seasons.

Due to the time difference, all World Cup matches are played early in the day. That means pubs are getting a double hit from day and night traffic on match days, Hania said.

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Balraj Jutla, co-owner of Lost Craft Brewery and High Park Brewery, agreed that the morning timing of the game was an “additional advantage.”

Based on Canada’s exciting Wednesday performance, he expects Fully Booked Sunday to be “unbelievable” for fans and restaurateurs alike.

“We are all on board,” he said.

Chania said it was a welcome addition to the last two years, adding that it wasn’t just the Canadian games that people were flocking to the bar to watch, but the England games were also expected to see a lot of traffic. said it does.

“We will be full,” said Chania on Sunday morning.

Café Diplomatico is preparing another street party for the final match of the 2022 World Cup on December 18th.

Mastrangelo Jr. said, “We’ve always had a street party at the finals.

Traffic on this World Cup match day may not reach the level of a sunny day, but it will provide a nice boost as the chilly weather sets in and the holiday season approaches.

“It definitely boosts our sales…maybe a little bit slower.”

Payments provider Moneris said it expects the World Cup to start a surge in spending on bars and restaurants.

In 2018, the last World Cup, spending in bars in Toronto’s Little Portugal and Little Italy increased by more than 15%, while spending across the city increased by just under 10%, Moneris said. increase.

And it’s not just soccer. The Toronto Blue Jays’ Wild Card Series this year saw him increase sales in Toronto’s bars and restaurants near the stadium by more than 50%.

Moneris said similar events, such as the Canadian Grand Prix and hockey’s Battle of Alberta playoff series, have flooded local bars and restaurants with spending.

© 2022 The Canadian Press