World Cup - June, 2026

This is my pitch to organizers for FIFA Toronto:

As huge numbers of people from around the world descend on Toronto and pour billions into the city's economy, Toronto's gracious welcome could include free access to a grand, historic place in the centre of the downtown where visitors can:

• Access an Information Centre in multiple languages;

• Take air-conditioned, rain-free shelter from whatever weather is in store;

• Explore exhibits that make up some of the future Museum of Toronto;

• Provide seating for hundreds on benches in the many courtrooms (no food or drink allowed except for water) where visitors can rest their feet, meet up with people, access free wifi and/or watch continuous showings of Michael Kainer's two documentaries about Old City Hall;

• Rent headphones to play descriptive audio in all the languages of visiting soccer teams to exhibits and the documentaries;

• Buy refreshments in excellent cafes, restaurants and bars in OCH;

• Shop in delightful stores featuring Toronto and Ontario creativity at its best;

• Watch art restorers dab at murals in the city council chamber;

• Explore closed parts of the building with modestly priced tours offered in all the languages of visiting teams MADE POSSIBLE BY VOLUNTEERS;

• And last but not least: use sparkling clean washrooms. Investment in many additional washrooms will not go to waste! Part of the Ground Floor of OCH (the building has no basement) could well be turned a reception area with lockers for future busloads of school children and youth coming to OCH for field trips.