With U.S. land border still closed, B.C. Seahawks fans will miss home opener
He’s been a Seattle Seahawks season ticket holder for 12 years, but with the U.S. land border still closed, Vancouverite Greg Keith will miss Sunday’s home opener.
“It’s very frustrating, especially for someone like myself that loves to be down in the U.S. and spend time at sport events,” said Keith.
Fully vaccinated Americans are able to travel north into Canada with a negative COVID-19 test, but that has not been extended to Canadians wanting to drive south.
“I’m seeing all the American plates up here,” said Keith. “Here they are, allowed to come up here, but we’re not allowed to go down there. It doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
While the U.S. border closure expires on Sept. 21, travel experts predict it will be extended once again.
“At this stage we haven’t heard anything yet, so our expectation is the border will remain closed for the foreseeable future,” said Allison Wallace with Flight Centre.
Canadians are able to fly into the United States, but they have to present a negative COVID-19 test before departure and again before they can fly home. PCR tests for travel are typically hundreds of dollars in both countries.
“The challenge is, people who are really itching to travel, they’re willing to pay the extra price. But if you’re a family, if you’re on a budget of any kind, it’s a significant cost, so it is acting as a deterrent,“ said Wallace.
While Keith is fully vaccinated and has flown to Seahawks games in previous seasons, the testing requirements have him nervous to try that now.
“If you wanted to go down for a game today you would have to get a test on the Saturday, even if you only go down for a six-hour game to turn around and come back. Do you need another test when you are down there? Do the tests up here in Canada work when you’re coming back in here? I think the rules aren’t clear,” he said.
With so much uncertainty, Wallace said fall and winter travel bookings are only about a third of what they’d normally be.
“We are seeing people who are booking and making plans, but ensuring they have flexibility with cancellation. And then there are a lot of people in wait-and-see mode,” said Wallace.
Unless there’s a major change by this weekend, the southbound land border won’t be open in time for the Seahawks game.
“No, I will not be there,“ said Keith, one of at least 5,000 season ticket holders who live in Canada. “I will most likely be sitting at my house on my couch with a bunch of friends that would be at the Seahawks game with me, and we’ll be cheering them on from up here.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.