VANCOUVER, CANADA 1986
Expo 86 - World in Motion, World in Touch

Quick List Info

Dates Open - May 2, 1986 to October 13, 1986

Attendance - 22,111,578

International Participants - 51 nations 2 colonies, 2 international organizations. 12 State/provincial participants, 9 Corporate/domestic participants

Total Cost - Total Budget (Expo Authority Capital & Operating) ... CDN$802 million (US$590 million). Total actual revenues (Expo Authority) ... CDN$369 million ... deficit of CDN$337 million (US$253 million) (Paid off by provincial lottery). Lower expenditures than budgeted by CDN$94 million.

Site Acreage - 173 acres (2 sites, False creek 165 acres & Burrard inlet 6 acres) Sites connected by free Skytrain line (4 minutes)

Sanction - B.I.E. Special Category Expo.

Ticket Cost - CDN$20, US$15.

• For more info about the World's Fair Decision Model, development of the model, the study participants, etc. The development is currently being utilized for in-house publishing projects, but is not available for work-for-hire decuments or consulting.



• For More info about the Bureau of International Exhibitions - Sanctioning body for international exposition (world's fairs) headquartered in Paris, France.



• For more info about previous EXPOcheck reports.

Other Histories of World's Fairs to Check Out

• Quick List of All Expos
  
  1st World's Fair in History
  London 1851
  
  1st World's Fair in the United States
  New York 1853-4
  
  1st Paris Exposition Universelle
  Paris 1855
  
  World's Fair and Eiffel Tower
  Paris 1889
  
  Largest World's Fair in History
  St. Louis 1904
  
  World's Fair Foreshadowing WWII
  Paris 1937
  
  1st World's Fair after World War II
  Brussels 1958
  
  1st World's Fair in Canada
  Montreal 1967
  
  Most Recent World's Fair in North America
  Vancouver 1986
  
  
  

Expo Timeline

1978 ... British Columbia initiative to host Expo '86 began with Centennial fair proposal.
June 1979 ... Bureau of International Exhibition sanction filed for by British Columbia.
November 26, 1980 ... Executive Committee of Bureau of International Exhibitions awards right to Vancouver, Canada to host Expo '86. Requirements of a Specialized Category World Expo - focus on single aspect of human endeavor, "Transportation & Communication." Host country builds and leases pavilion to international participants.

June 1981 ... Canada issues diplomatic invitations for nations to participate.
February 1984 - 30 international participants committed, including China, USSR, and Mexico. 1st normal meeting of College of Commissioners.
November 1984 ... Construction forges on, eventually to be 200 structures.
February 1985 ... General Motors pavilion announced, also appointed official supplier of transportation.
March 1985 ... A first for World Expositions with year early Expo Centre building opening as prevue with three major exhibits. International participation reaches 36 with Barbados announcement.
April 1985 ... 100,000th visitor to Display Centre
August 1985 ... Hong Kong announced as 42nd international participant. 500,000 people attend Expo Centre.
November 1985 ... Expo Centre prevue draws 664,134, over double projection.
January 1986 ... Announcement of ticket sales boom, over 60% of tickets now pre-sold.
February 1986 ... 10 million tickets pre-sold, 73% of budgeted projection.
March 1986 ... 54th international participant announced when Nauru and Malaysia join roster.
April 1986 ... 13 million tickets pre-sold. Expected attendance now raised to 17 million.

May 2, 1986 - OPENING DAY.
May 13, 1986 - Attendance already over one million.
July 7, 1986 - 7 million visitor mark topped.
August - 10 millionth visitor clicks through the gates followed close behind by the passing of the 13.75 budgeted attendance figure on August 20.
October 13, 1986 - EXPO CLOSING DAY. Accomplishments noted - 15 million pre-sold tickets. United States, U.S.S.R. & China participate together for the first time at a North American exposition.

Participants

Expo Zones By Color

Purple - East Gate, Expo Centre, Yukon, People's Republic of China, Northwest Territories, Folklife Festival.

Red - SkyTrain Stadium Station, Scream Machine, Canada Pavilion, Canada Portal, Saskatchewan, Looping Starship, HSST, Japan, Yugoslavia, Romania, Pavilion of Promise, Australia, Land Plaza, Canadian National, HIGHWAY 86, Ontario, Kenya, Pakistan, Senegal, First Aid & Security.

Blue - BC Pavilion Complex, Plaza of Nations, B.C., Expo Theatre, 1907 Philadelphia Toboggan Co. Carousel.

Pink - USSR, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Peru, Sri Lanka, Norwegian Explorers, Indonesia, Singapore, Phillipines, Brunei Darussalem, Thailand, Child's Play, Saudi Arabia, Air Plaza, Org. of Eastern Caribbean States (Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, Commonwealth of Dominica, Montserrat, St. Kitts/Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia), Mexico, South Pacific (Fiji, W. Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Nauru.)

Green - Canadian Pacific, Roundhouse, First Aid & Security, American Express, Hong Kong, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Air Canada, Alberta, Quebec, United Nations, Italy, Britain, Spain, Belgium, EEC, France, Germany, Barbados, Norway, Costa Rica, Marine Plaza.

Yellow - Space Tower, Cariboo Log Chute,Republic of Korea, Telecom Canada, BCTV, West Gate, Old Salts Shipyard, Kodak Pacific Bowl, Great Hall of Ramses II, California, Washington, Oregon, U.S., Xeros International Theatre,Cote d'Ivoire, General Motors, Cuba.