In recent years Science World have received $19 M from federal taxpayers and $20 M from BC taxpayers for infrastructure investment.
BC taxpayers even paid $200 k for a special FIFA exhibit — as if we weren't already being screwed enough given we're subsidising the World Cup to the tune of approx. $2000 per ticket (and that's assuming that they all sell).
Given this, you would think that Science World would want to seek some private funding so that it doesn't have to screw more out of taxpayers in future? Think again...
Science World give Adidas a freebie
Rather than generate some private income off the back of the World Cup Science World decided to let Adidas convert the Science World dome into a giant FIFA World Cup 26™ Trionda Pro Ball (which retails for $210!) for, wait for it, precisely ZERO dollars.
In their infinite sciencey wisdom, the executives at Science World figured it was too much to ask Adidas — with their 4.8 billion dollar annual marketing spend and 3 billion dollar annual profit — to pay a penny for what is probably their largest single marketing installation of the year.
1-0 to Adidas?
For their part Adidas do not come off looking much better. They failed to see the positive brand opportunity of putting some of their enormous marketing spend into science education for kids through a not-for-profit organisation. Instead, they saved a few million dollars that they can pay out to rich executives at the end of the year. Result.
Taxpayer loses again
We're told that the whole point of the taxpayer subsidising such a big event is that it will generate business, growth, investment, income. That is not going to happen if companies like Science World (who themselves are funded by taxpayers to the tune of tens of millions of dollars) just give away massive freebies to big corporate.
We at Vanpoover will be renouncing our Science World membership until the executive responsible for this calamitous decision has had their salary permanently reduced to the same value as their deal with Adidas. We encourage you to do the same. Money talks.
#fifa2026 #adidassuck #scienceworldsuck #shitshow #vanpoover