City won't permit Fox Sports' studio's outdoor screen for Women's World Cup match viewings

Hundreds packed the FIFA Fan Zone at Larwill Park on Saturday to cheer Team Canada to its first game win in the Women’s World Cup tournament.

But for fans who tried to catch the game at Jack Poole Plaza, yesterday’s opening match was tinged with disappointment. Despite the Olympic Cauldron being lit and a big screen set up, the plaza is apparently not a tournament viewing venue.

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Roderick Louis was one of about 150 people he says were watching the game at Fox Sports’ studio by the Olympic Cauldron, but the feed was cut after about 20 minutes.

“The people in the crowd got miffed, and began yelling ‘please turn the game back on!'” he said.

“To construct a big studio and broadcast centre with an outdoor viewing screen, but then to not have the screen broadcasting games for the people who live here… why not?”

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Fox Sports says the city doesn’t want them showing the games in order focus crowds at the official fan zone.

No comment yet from the City of Vancouver.

Originally published on CKNW.com