If the long lineups to food trucks and aroma-filled tents were any indication Wednesday, the people selling food and drinks to the thousands of FIFA fan festival-goers were doing a brisk business.

Three operators interviewed prior to Team Canada’s match against Switzerland were all anticipating a busy day as wave after wave of fans arrived at Hastings Park, which has been the site of the festival since June 11.

A couple hours before the noon start to the match, Karl Gregg, owner of Rosie’s BBQ and Smokehouse, was readying his barbecue in the back of his small tent. Two staff members were busily preparing meat and fixings for customers.

A short walk away, Gregg’s food trailer of the same name was also in preparation mode.

“It’s going to be nuts—and that’s good,” Gregg said. “With festivals, you get the highs and lows. You get a break when it’s a little bit low, and you get to recharge and get ready for the high.”

Gregg described the festival site as a beautiful space, pointing to the grassy hill out front of his tent.

“This hill filled up for one of the Mexico games,” he said. “It felt like you were a part of it, even though you were working.”

What Business in Vancouver observed Wednesday afternoon was Gregg’s food service businesses running on “high” as customers lined up for roast chicken,  brisket and smoked specialties.

‘Two countries that bring out the most people’

A couple tents over, Sophia Quintero and her two staff at La Taqueria Pinche Taco Shop were also in full production line mode, quickly making taco after taco for the many customers dressed in red and white.

Mexico would also play later in the day, which Quintero—wearing a sports jersey in the green colour of the team—anticipated would be good for business.

“It’s going good, especially on days when Mexico or Canada plays,” she said, shortly after the main gates to the festival opened at 10 a.m. “Those are the two countries that bring out the most people here.”

Quintero added: “So there’s good days and bad days. But I think it’s as expected. Like on weekday mornings, there’s not as many people as there is on a Saturday evening.”

Amphitheatre, park stage

The main attraction for fans is the newly built amphitheatre, which features three large viewing screens. The facility was packed Wednesday for the Canada-Switzerland game. Smaller screens are positioned in other areas of the festival grounds.

Tickets must be purchased to use the seats in the amphitheatre, but there is a first-come, first-serve standing room-only space at the front of the amphitheatre stage that can accommodate 2,600 people free of charge.

Daily entertainment on various stages from performers such as Los Dorados, Sam Roberts and Jake Vaadeland and The Sturgeon River Boys — which appeared on the park stage Wednesday morning — has also attracted crowds.

Adults can buy alcohol and bring it with them throughout the site.

Sales ‘meeting expectations’

La Taqueria and Rosie’s BBQ and Smokehouse are located in what festival organizers dubbed “the neighbourhood,” a row of food tents with wood-framed facades a short walk from the Pacific Coliseum.

Other offerings on the strip include Paella Guys, NUBA, Riz Sushi, ChouChou Crepes, Peacock by Vij’s and Munchi German Foods. Further south, dozens of food trucks and other food and beverage kiosks line what is a sloping hill that eventually links to the amphitheatre.

Near the top of that hill, Elena Alps, shift manager for Aperitivo food truck, and staff were serving their first customers within 10 minutes of the festival gates opening. Gelato and milkshakes were on the menu.

The truck was originally located in another spot on the festival grounds, but customer traffic wasn’t as expected, said Alps, noting organizers agreed to allow the truck to set up in its current location.

“Definitely, the people in charge of organizing the food vendors are looking to set the food vendors up for success,” she said. “I think at this point, the sales are meeting expectations. In the first week or so, it was a lot slower than anticipated.”

Festival organizers said more than 40,000 people visited the festival Wednesday.

Rain in forecast

A steady stretch of good weather and people realizing there was no entry fee to get into the festival has also been good for business, the three operators said. But with rain in the forecast for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, they’re hoping the crowds will still come.

“I’m not sure what to expect,” Alps said.

Meanwhile, Team Canada lost 2-1 to Switzerland, setting up a contest against South Africa Sunday in Los Angeles. Game time is noon, with festival gates expected to open at 10 a.m.—rain or shine.

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