The Cost of a Sporting Event: Cash or Points

The cost of a sporting event comes down to three decisions, and the gap between paying cash and paying with points runs past $2,000 on a single weekend. There is no hidden trick to it: it is the choice of neighbourhood, the moment you book, and the card you pull out on site.

We ran the numbers on real dates, those of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada. The amounts below come from that survey, but the mechanics hold for any fixture that concentrates demand into a few days. For the full plan, see our guide on how to attend a sporting event with your points and our pick of the best credit cards.

The cost of a sporting event, line by line

A match weekend for two always breaks down the same way: two nights, two return flights, meals on site and the extras. Here is what each line costs depending on whether you pay everything in cash or use what you have accumulated.

Line	Paid entirely in cash	Paid with your points and your card
2 nights of accommodation	$2,100 to $2,550 next to the stadium	$398 in university residence, or one night covered by a certificate
Return flights for two	Cash fare, inflated on match dates	From 40,000 Aeroplan or WestJet Rewards points
2 airport lounge visits	$80	Included, 6 visits a year with the card
Welcome bonus to apply	None	35,000 Scene+ points, or $350 in credit

The cumulative gap runs from $2,100 to $2,500 on a single weekend, before the flight is even counted. The heaviest share does not come from the points: it comes from the accommodation choice, whether you pay in cash or not.

Sports fans cheering for their team in the stands of a stadium

Hotels: where the bill explodes

This is where it hurts. In Toronto, downtown rates jumped about 78% around the June 12 opening date, and the hotel closest to BMO Field is going for $1,045 to $1,275 a night on match nights. Themed packages climb even higher. In Vancouver, the tournament’s priciest host city, the average nightly rate is close to $890, and match nights are up about 49%.

Here’s what a match night in downtown Toronto looks like, and the options that actually cut the bill:

Option (match night)	Rate per night	Stadium access
Hotel next to BMO Field	$1,045 to $1,275	Walking distance
Luxury hotel «Soccer 2026» package	$1,988	Downtown
Entry-level downtown chain hotel	From $549	Public transit
Budget suite hotel	$411 (June 12)	Public transit
University residence (U of T)	$199 single / $299 double	Public transit
Suburbs with GO Train access (Mississauga, Vaughan, Pickering)	Significantly less	GO Transit to Union

The math is brutal. Two nights right by the stadium run about $2,100 to $2,550. The same two nights in a university residence come to $398, with GO Train suburbs landing somewhere in between while still dropping you at Union in about thirty minutes. Choosing the smart option over premium downtown saves $1,700 to $2,100 on a single weekend.

A free night certificate, like the ones from Marriott Bonvoy, hits its maximum value right here: on a match night worth over $1,000. The same certificate used in the off-season is worth a fraction of that. Otherwise, Scene+ points apply to any accommodation at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 to knock down part of the bill.

Getting there on points instead of cash

For a reader based in Quebec, the instinct is a Montreal–Toronto round trip. On match dates, cash fares climb fast. Short-haul North American reward flights, on the other hand, start around 10,000 points one-way with Aeroplan or WestJet Rewards, a dynamic rate that rises on peak dates but often still lands at 1.5 to 2 ¢ per point, above our valuation. Since most programs let you redeposit points penalty-free, you can lock in a seat early and adjust later, risk-free.

The lesson holds for every knockout stage: reward seats go first when an entire continent travels to the same city on the same dates.

What the card really adds over a weekend

For travel within Canada, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card plays on three concrete levers, beyond currency exchange.

1. Scene+ earnings on a real match weekend. The card gives 2 points per dollar on transportation, restaurants and entertainment, exactly the three categories of a match weekend. Take a realistic weekend for two: $300 on restaurants and bars, $60 in transportation to the stadium, $100 on entertainment and $80 elsewhere. That’s about 1,000 Scene+ points, or $10. Modest on the weekend alone, but it adds up over time.

2. Airport lounges, in packed terminals. Pearson and YVR are overflowing during the tournament. The 6 included lounge visits per year are worth up to $240 based on our $40-per-visit valuation, which alone covers the card’s $150 annual fee.

3. The welcome bonus. New cardholders get up to 35,000 Scene+ points, a $350 value. Enough to cover one downtown match night, or several nights in the suburbs. Redeemable at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 on any travel purchase.

2 Scene+ points per dollar on transportation, restaurants and entertainment (3 on groceries, 1 on everything else)
6 lounge visits per year, worth up to $240 against a $150 fee
Up to 35,000 Scene+ points as a welcome bonus, a $350 value

We named it Best No-Foreign-Transaction-Fee Credit Card in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

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Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Card

Scotiabank Scene+

Annual fee: $150
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $350
Welcome offerAfter $2,000 in 3 months: Up to 35,000 points; Ends Nov 1, 2026

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card ^+* Card^MC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

No fees for foreign currency transactions
6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Legal

* The potential value of savings and rewards during the first 12 months includes the value of the welcome offer, the potential value of points earned in the first year, the value of savings on foreign currency transaction fees and the cost of airport lounge access as of May 22, 2026:

$250 in travel rewards (25,000 bonus Scene+ points) for new Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Cardholders who charge $2,000 in purchases to their account within the first three (3) months;

$100 in travel rewards (10,000 bonus Scene+ points) for cardholders who charge $40,000 in purchases to their account;

$50 in savings from the annual fee waiver on the first additional card for new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit card account holders;

$132 in savings on foreign currency transaction fees based on the average amount of foreign currency purchases made per active account over the past 24 months (by saving on the 2.5% foreign currency transaction fees typically charged by other credit card issuers);

$364 representing the potential value of points earned in the first year (36,400 Scene+ points) based on the average amount of purchases made per active account over the past 24 months, assuming an average spend of 21% of purchases in categories eligible for accelerated earn rates of 2X and 3X points;

$358 representing the value of complimentary membership in the Visa Airport Companion program which includes 6 airport lounge passes (based on « Preferred » membership valued at approximately $357 CAD/$259 USD). Based on the exchange rate in effect on May 22, 2026.

Maximum potential value after the first year = $1,254 (rounded to $1,250)

The actual value of offers, savings realized and points earned will vary depending on card usage and eligibility for applicable offers. Conditions apply.

1 Offer description and conditions: The 25,000 Scene+ points offer (the « offer ») applies only to new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit card accounts (the « accounts ») opened between August 4, 2026 and November 1, 2026 (regardless of the date you apply for the account) subject to the conditions below. The offer may be modified, cancelled or extended at any time without notice, and it cannot be combined with any other offer.

In addition, as a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Cardholder, you are eligible for an annual bonus of 10,000 Scene+ points if you charge at least $40,000 in eligible everyday purchases to your Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card account over the course of one year. Conditions apply; see below for more details.

Description and conditions of the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points offer: To be eligible for the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points offer (« 25,000 bonus points »), you must charge at least $2,000 in total eligible purchases to your account within the first three months following the account opening date.

Conditions for the annual 10,000 Scene+ points bonus:
As a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit cardholder, you can earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points (the « annual points bonus ») if you charge at least $40,000 in eligible purchases to your account over the course of one year (12-month period). The annual period begins on the account opening date; a new period starts again every twelve months thereafter. If you replace another Scene+-eligible credit card with the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card (i.e., it is not a new card or an additional card), the opening date of your original account will be carried over to your new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card account and your annual period under this offer will begin on the next anniversary date of your original account opening. For example, if you originally opened a Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card account on January 15, 2022 and you switch to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card on July 15, 2025, your annual period under the 10,000 Scene+ points annual bonus offer will begin on January 15, 2026 (your next anniversary date) and a new period will start again on January 15 each year thereafter. You will earn 2,000 bonus Scene+ points for each additional $10,000 in purchases made during the same year once you have reached the $40,000 annual purchase threshold.

Eligible purchases means purchases, less refunds, returns and any other similar credits, and excludes payments, cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions), interest charges, as well as card fees and other fees.

Fulfillment of the annual points bonus: Bonus points will be credited within approximately eight weeks after you become eligible for a bonus, provided the account is open and in good standing. In the case of a joint account with a primary borrower and a co-borrower, bonus points will be credited as follows: (i) the 25,000 bonus points and the annual points bonus will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the account of the borrower who made the transaction that reached the eligible purchase threshold ($2,000, or $40,000) within the appropriate timeframe (the first three months, or the first 12 months). If an additional cardholder makes the transaction that reaches the eligible purchase threshold for the 25,000 bonus points, or the annual points bonus, the bonus points will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the primary borrower’s account. It is possible to transfer points between the Scene+ accounts of a primary borrower, a co-borrower or an additional cardholder by contacting Scene+. An account is in good standing if it is not past due, there is no over-limit, and the cardholder(s) have complied with the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement that applies to the account. All other program conditions continue to apply during the offer period.

Offer eligibility and exclusions: You cannot take advantage of the offer if you are currently a primary or secondary cardholder of a Scotiabank personal credit card or have been one in the past two years, including if you transfer your balance from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card account, and if you are a Scotiabank employee. Subject to the exclusions mentioned above, small business credit cardholders are eligible for this offer.

Rates and fees: The annual fees are $150 for the primary card, $0 for the first additional card and $50 for each additional card thereafter (including those issued to joint account holders and additional cardholders). The preferred annual interest rates applicable to the account are as follows: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions). The rates, fees, and features and benefits, which are described in the disclosure statement accompanying the application, may be changed.

Savings at Shell

Get up to 7 cents per litre in instant fuel discounts for a limited time and earn up to 3 cents per litre in Scene+ points value with an eligible Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + card linked to a Shell Go+ Account:

Instant 3 cents per Litre Discount on Fuel Purchases (All Grades): Receive an instant 3 cents per litre discount on purchases of fuel (all grades) (“Fuel Purchases (All Grades)”) at participating Shell locations in Canada when you use any eligible Scotiabank debit card or credit card linked to a Shell Go+ Account, up to a maximum of 1,000 litres per month per Scotiabank debit card and per Scotiabank credit card account. This total limit resets at the start of each new month per payment card account. This discount is subject to the Scotiabank Fuel Benefit Terms and Conditions.
Instant 4 cents per Litre Discount on Premium Fuel: Between May 26, 2026 and June 1, 2027 (“Promotional Period”), receive an instant 4 cents per litre discount on purchases of V-Power^® gasoline, or V-Power^® diesel (“Premium Fuel Purchases”) at participating Shell locations in Canada when you use any eligible Scotiabank credit card that earns Scene+ points linked to a Shell Go+ Account, up to a maximum of 1,000 litres per month per credit card account. This total limit resets at the start of each new month per credit card account. This promotional offer, including the Promotional Period, may be changed, extended, or withdrawn at any time without notice. These promotional offer terms are in addition to the Scotiabank Fuel Benefit Terms and Conditions.
Earn up to 3 cents per Litre in Scene+ points Value (Equivalent) on Fuel Purchases: Each time you use your linked Scotiabank credit card that earns Scene+ points on Fuel Purchases (All Grades) at participating Shell locations in Canada, you will earn at least 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent. Plus, as a Scene+ Member you will also automatically earn 1 Scene+ point for each litre in Fuel Purchases (All Grades), and as a Shell Go+ member, automatically earn 1 additional Scene+ point for each litre in Premium Fuel Purchases, made with your linked Scotiabank credit card. This means that for every litre in fuel purchased with your linked credit card, you can earn the equivalent of up to 3 cents of redeemable Scene+ points value based on a redemption value of $10 for every 1,000 Scene+ points redeemed for fuel purchases at participating Shell locations. Actual value may be lower depending on how you choose to redeem your Scene+ points. Earn and redemption limits may apply. See the Scene+ Program Terms and Conditions available at sceneplus.ca/terms-and-conditions for full details including redemption options and additional terms.

Note: Highest value of 10 cents per litre assumes a Premium Fuel Purchase made with a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + Card linked to a Shell Go+ Account. Actual value will vary depending on payment card used and whether or not the card is linked, fuel grade purchased, and how you choose to redeem your Scene+ points.

Annual fee

Primary card$150

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$60,000

Household$100,000

Conversion fees

Earning rate

2xGroceries
2xRestaurants
2xTransit
2xEntertainment
1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650

2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days

Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days

Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days

Trip CancellationUp to $1,500

Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500

Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000

Lost BaggageUp to $1,000

Flight DelayUp to $500

Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000

Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Abroad: currency conversion and data

This is where currency exchange comes into play. As soon as you pay in US dollars or pesos, most Canadian cards add 2.5% to every transaction. Over a two-week stay in a US host city, that surcharge adds up fast. The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card charges no foreign transaction fees: that 2.5% stays in your pocket on every meal, every hotel night and every ticket bought on-site.

On the data side, Visa Infinite cardholders get 11 GB of GigSky data a year, enough to keep track of tickets, transportation and the map on site without paying roaming fees. Visa periodically adds boosted data packages during major tournaments, such as the 7 days of unlimited Canada, United States and Mexico data offered in the spring of 2026. Our GigSky eSIM guide walks through the setup. Finally, Visa is FIFA’s official payment partner, and Visa cards are accepted on the official ticketing platform.

The same framework for the next big event

The World Cup is just a textbook case. The same playbook (book early, stay on the outskirts, use a no-foreign-transaction-fee card abroad, make the most of lounges, and keep your points flexible) applies to any event that sends demand through the roof. Here’s where it’ll come in handy again.

Event	When and where	The key asset
Super Bowl LXI	February 14, 2027, Los Angeles	In the US: zero conversion fees, lounges, and staying on the outskirts to dodge inflated rates
Summer Olympics	July 14 to 30, 2028, Los Angeles	Extreme demand over 16 days: book very early with points, zero conversion fees, eSIM
Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix	November 19 to 21, 2026	In the US: zero conversion fees and lounges, staying off the Strip
Canadian Grand Prix	Every June, in Montreal	Domestic: 2x Scene+ on transportation and restaurants, staying on the outskirts
Rugby World Cup	October 1 to November 13, 2027, Australia	Long-haul: reward flights booked early and zero conversion fees on the ground
NHL playoffs, Blue Jays, Grey Cup	Recurring, in Canada	Domestic: 2x Scene+ on transportation, restaurants and entertainment, tickets paid with a Visa card

Same card, same method. A no-foreign-transaction-fee card that earns on transportation, restaurants and entertainment, and gets you into lounges, stays relevant well beyond any single tournament.

The verdict, by the numbers

On a match weekend in Canada, most of the savings don’t come from anything complicated, just three decisions backed by numbers. Choosing a smart place to stay over lodging right by the stadium saves $1,700 to $2,100 over two nights. Flying on reward points instead of cash avoids inflated airfares. And the right card covers its own fee through lounge access, earns on the categories of a match weekend and offers up to $350 in welcome value to reinvest in travel. Taken together, those three decisions are worth more than $2,000 on a single trip.

For the next event, preparation matters more than luck: tickets are released in phases, often months ahead. Set up the official ticketing account as soon as the schedule is announced, and read our guide on how to get tickets for a major sporting event.

After the World Cup: the NHL

The tournament ended on 19 July 2026, but the arithmetic on this page still holds. You simply swap the event. A Montreal Canadiens or Toronto Maple Leafs game raises the same three questions: the price of the ticket, the price of the hotel night and the cost of getting there. The volume, however, is not remotely comparable. The World Cup delivered thirteen games in Canada over one month. The seven Canadian NHL teams each play 42 home dates between 29 September 2026 and 10 April 2027.

That flexibility is the real difference. Instead of accepting a date set by a tournament bracket, you pick a quiet week in November or February, when downtown hotel rates drop back to normal. Moreover, a Montreal to Toronto round trip on points is the same route at the same award pricing, whatever the sport. Our NHL travel hub carries the full season schedule, the arena and airport for each city, and the official ticket link for every game.

NHL travel hub 2026-27, all seven Canadian teams
Montreal Canadiens, downtown arena, on the metro
Toronto Maple Leafs, arena sits above Union Station

The cost of a sporting event: frequently asked questions

How much does a hotel night in Toronto cost on a match night?

Downtown, expect $549 to over $1,275 a night on match nights, and considerably more for luxury packages. Rates jumped about 78% around the June 12 opening. Options from $199 to $411 are still available in university residences or suite hotels, and GO Train suburbs cost less.

Is it better to stay in the suburbs than downtown?

In most cases, yes. Hotels in Mississauga, Vaughan or Pickering cost a fraction of downtown rates and reach Union Station via GO Train in about thirty minutes. Over two nights, the gap with a hotel right by the stadium easily reaches $1,700 to $2,100.

How many points are needed for a flight to a host city?

Short-haul North American flights start around 10,000 points one-way with Aeroplan or WestJet Rewards. Pricing is dynamic and rises on match dates, but the return often still lands at 1.5 to 2 ¢ per point. Book early: reward seats go first.

Which credit card should you use for a sporting event trip?

For a match in Canada, aim for earnings on transportation, restaurants and entertainment, plus lounge access. The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card gives 2 Scene+ points per dollar on these categories, includes 6 lounge visits and offers up to 35,000 welcome points. For matches in the US or Mexico, its zero foreign transaction fees become the deciding factor.

How can I avoid roaming fees while travelling?

Use an eSIM. Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card holders get 11 GB of GigSky data a year, usable abroad with no roaming charges. Visa also runs limited-time boosted data packages around certain major tournaments: check what is in force before you leave.

When did the FIFA World Cup 2026 end?

The tournament ran from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with the final on July 19 in the New York/New Jersey area. In Canada, 13 matches were played in Toronto (6) and Vancouver (7). The figures on this page come from that survey and serve as a benchmark for the next major event.