Ottawa soccer fans left hungry and waiting at stadium
Last Updated: Tuesday, July 3, 2007 | 6:06 PM ET
CBC News
Related
Video
- CBC-TV's Cory O'Kelly reports (Runs: 2:00)
- Play: QuickTime »
- Play: Real Media »
The caterer for the FIFA U-20 World Cup tournament at Ottawa's Lansdowne Park apologized Tuesday after food stands ran out on Saturday, leaving fans hungry during the five hours of the tournament's back-to-back opening matches.
Aramark, the international catering company supplying international foods during the tournament, told CBC News it would double-stock all its kiosks for Tuesday's doubleheaders at the park — the Czech Republic versus North Korea at 5 p.m. ET and Panama vs. Argentina at 7:45 p.m. ET.
'My friend's mom and my friend's little brother stood in line for about 45 minutes — one half of the game — and came back because they ran out of food.'— Soccer fan Alex Bergeron
On Saturday, the company had no Panamanian bean salads or Czech perogies left to sell by the start of the second game, which began between Argentina and the Czech Republic at 7:15 p.m. ET. Beer kegs went dry soon after.
At that point, many of the thousands of fans at the sold-out games had already worked up a keen appetite watching the match between North Korea and Panama that started at 4:30 p.m.
Ticket holders at the stadium are barred from bringing their own food or from coming back after leaving the stadium to get food on their own.
FIFA officials said the rules are in place for security or organizational reasons and they have no plans to change them.
Lisa Jamieson, who attended the games with her husband and two children, said she wouldn't have minded the rules if the food were easier to get.
"The stadium obviously wasn't prepared for that many people," said Jamieson. "I stood in line for over half an hour to get four hot dogs and missed half the Argentinian game, unfortunately."
Others, such as Linda Bergeron, had even less luck.
"We waited in line once for 20 minutes for popcorn and when we got to the front, they said the popcorn maker broke," she said.
Her son Alex Bergeron added, "My friend's mom and my friend's little brother stood in line for about 45 minutes — one half of the game — and came back because they ran out of food and they had nothing. That was very frustrating for me."
Share Tools
Latest Ottawa News Headlines
- Baseball stadium agreement approved by committee
- The finance and economic development committee unanimously approved a lease agreement with Beacon Sports Group for Ottawa's baseball stadium. more »
- Swift rebuild has Senators in different position in 2012
- Nobody picked the Ottawa Senators to make the playoffs this season, but after swapping for prospects and picks at last year's deadline, a successful run to the Calder Cup championship last spring and the hiring of head coach Paul MacLean in the off-season, the Senators are in post-season position. But are they ready for prime time? more »
- OPP called in to probe ORNGE 'irregularities'
- Ontario Provincial Police are called in to investigate ORNGE, the province's troubled air ambulance service. more »
- Rideau Canal closed due to mild weather
- Warmer weather has created a wet and slushy Rideau Canal, which caused National Capital Commission official to shut down the ice surface Thursday. more »
Top News Headlines
- Dog kills newborn in Alberta community
- Officials in Airdrie are revealing few details about the fatal mauling of an infant by a family dog in the southern Alberta city. more »
- Former Expos catcher Gary Carter succumbs to brain cancer
- Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter, who left an indelible mark on baseball in Canada during his 12 years with the Montreal Expos, died on Thursday. The man nicknamed "Kid" or "Kid Carter" for his ever-smiling face and cheerfulness is free from the inoperable brain cancer that sapped his energy and took his life at age 57. more »
- Underwear bomber sentenced to life in prison
- A Nigerian man who tried to blow up an international flight near Detroit on behalf of al-Qaida has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. more »
- 7 MPs and their fiery quotes
- The election of a majority government was seen by some as a chance for less acrimonious politics on Parliament Hill. But the past week has seen its fair share of inflammatory rhetoric on both sides of the House. more »
Most Viewed/Commented
- No free drinking water at CE Centre
- Man dead after fatal west Ottawa crash
- Students, parents warned of sexting trend
- Ceiling collapse injures square dancing couple
- Rideau Canal closed due to mild weather
- Baseball stadium agreement approved by committee
- Quebec protesters fight to save land
- Ottawa smoking ban passed at committee
- Hundreds mourn Carleton suicide victim

