Overflow crowd for Halifax Wanderers game generates buzz for more big events
A huge crowd for Wednesday night’s HFX Wanderers FC soccer game might be a hint at the future of how large events operate.
"6,413 in here last night," said Derek Martin, HFX Wanderers FC founder and president.
The atmosphere was electric as Halifax hosted CF Montreal in the quarterfinal of Canadian Championship.
An excited crowd and festival-style celebration showed the long awaited enthusiasm of sports fans to return to live games after a tough 18 months.
The game also featured strict public health protocols.
"We implemented the double vaccination rule for entry," said Martin.
Martin hopes Wednesday night’s game will serve as a springboard to help people feel confident again about hosting and attending big events.
"Certainly is a lot of work that goes into it. There are a lot of costs that go into it,” said Martin. “And certainly it is important for the public at large to feel some sense of normalcy back."
Not just fans watched at this game closely – those in the events industry were also keeping a close eye on the operations at the Wanderers Grounds.
"It gets us excited,” says Erin Esiyok-Prime, Marketing and Communications Director for Events East.
An overflow crowd for a soccer game is likely the opening chapter to help boost momentum for more big events.
The Halifax Mooseheads will soon allow full capacity crowds at the Scotiabank Centre.
"We will require proof of vaccination," said Esiyok-Prime, who added busy times for the Halifax Convention Centre are fast approaching.
"We have 50 events booked this fall already. When you look at 2022 and beyond, we see national and international events which means tourism."
It all adds up to good news, but caution is still a must when attending or planning large events says infectious disease specialist Dr. Lisa Barrett.
As more events like this are held in the future, Barrett hopes society does not ease up on public health measures.
"We are nice and steady state at this point,” said Barrett. ‘We are fluxing upward and that means we may need some temperance when it comes to how quickly we move forward."
Barrett said measures like masking, testing and knowing how much virus is in the community remain crucial.
While the Wanderers lost Wednesday’s game 3-1 to CF Montreal, many fans were all smiles leaving the Wanderers Grounds.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
Video shows suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.
Ottawa injects another $36M into fund for those seriously injured or killed by vaccines
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Ex-SNC executive sentenced to prison term in bridge bribery case
The RCMP says a former SNC-Lavalin executive has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in connection with a bribery scheme for a bridge repair contract in Montreal.