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
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
2 charged after police find 'concerning and diverse' explosives at Manitoba home
Winnipeg police say they have arrested two people in their 20s after a large amount of explosives were found in a home outside of Winnipeg, Man.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Spain abolishes national bullfighting award in cultural shift
Spain scrapped an annual bullfighting award on Friday, prompting a rebuke from conservatives over a backlash against a centuries-old tradition they see as an art form but which has run into growing concern for animal welfare.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.