The CP noted licensed Ontario restaurants and bars “will be allowed to sell alcohol until 4 a.m.” during the World Cup. The province announced the temporary extension Tuesday morning, saying that it “would help support tourism and local businesses” during the tournament. Last call for alcohol service is typically 2am, though the Ontario government has “made temporary changes in the past for major sporting events” such as the recent Olympic gold medal hockey game between Canada and the U.S. (CP, 5/19).
COULD’VE BEEN: In Boston, Leung & Chesto noted last summer, officials from Airbnb “met with” Boston’s host committee, Boston 26, about sponsoring World Cup festivities. Airbnb had set aside $5M to “spend on World Cup programming” at 16 host cities in North America. At the time, Boston 26 was “focused on securing seven-figure sponsorships.” Sources said that its leaders “decided it wasn’t worth alienating key allies for a slice” of $5M from Airbnb. Boston 26 did “not think it was incumbent upon them to come up with a deal that would work for all involved.” Meanwhile Airbnb was “confounded by Boston 26’s tepid response, and moved on” (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/19).
