The city of Toronto has shifted its focus from discussing the financial aspects of the World Cup to celebrating the tournament's lasting legacy and the dreams it inspires.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow emphasized the importance of building on the momentum created by the World Cup, highlighting the investments in soccer facilities and youth programming as well as the lasting benefits to local communities and businesses.
Chow pointed to the new soccer facilities at Centennial Park and the four mini-pitches being built across the city as proof of the game's endearing legacy.
City manager Paul Johnson noted the permanent upgrades at BMO Field, investments in sports technology and youth programming, and environmental improvements completed as part of the tournament.
Chow stressed that the diverse nature of the game appeals to every culture in the city, sparking a dream that anyone can play.
However, the financial legacy of the World Cup in Toronto remains to be seen, with some questioning the value of hosting the tournament and the impact on local businesses.
One endearing television moment occurred when thousands of enthusiastic fans in red jerseys marched to the stadium for Canada's opening game against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12.
The average fan was priced out of the market, with tickets for the Canadian men's national team opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina reaching $2,700 on the resale market.
Some Canada games did not sell out, with the capacity crowd for the game being 43,002, while the crowd for the Ghana and Panama game was 42,942.
Germany versus Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia versus Panama, Senegal versus Iran, and Croatia versus Portugal were all capacity crowds.
Tickets for the Modric-Ronaldo head-to-head match were going for more than $30,000, with the cheapest single seats sold for more than $2,600.
The cheapest ticket was Ghana and Panama at $615 US, while the cheapest ticket for the opener in Toronto was $1,082 US.
According to a study prepared for FIFA by Deloitte Canada, hosting the World Cup could contribute $940 million in positive economic output in the GTA, including adding $520 million to the city's gross domestic product.
Deloitte also estimated 28,000 people were expected to stay at an Airbnb host's property.
However, two hosts contacted by the Toronto Sun said the hoopla was a double red card, with one host stating they only had one guest for two days who came from Boston to see a FIFA game.
The host said they have not been able to command the prices that the city and Airbnb anticipated, with another host stating they didn't have a single inquiry about anything related to the World Cup.
Last year, the city said that tickets for the FIFA Fan Festival would be free to people with a game-day ticket, but the city changed its mind and chose to charge $10 for general admission.
However, there was still a charge for those wanting a premium seating experience with tickets ranging from $100 to $300 per game.
Some of the complaints about the Toronto festival included overcapacity constraints, grievances over abrupt weather evacuations with no refund, poor air quality cancellations, and missing or late staff pay.
On Monday, the city said more than 350,000 people attended the festival over 23 event days.
