Hockey World Cup Fuels Hope for Wavre Town Center Renewal
The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, jointly organized by Belgium and the Netherlands, kicks off tomorrow in Wavre, where the newly inaugurated Belfius Hockey Arena will host matches from August 15 to 30. Beyond the sporting spectacle, the event represents a potential turning point for a town center that has struggled with declining foot traffic and commercial attractiveness for years. With approximately 100,000 supporters expected during the two-week tournament, local officials and shopkeepers are hoping the international spotlight will provide a much-needed catalyst for renewal.
A Town Center in Search of Revival
Wavre’s commercial heart has faced persistent challenges. According to RTBF, surveys conducted by the local shopkeepers’ association in 2020 found that merchants lost between 6 and 17 percent of customer traffic after the introduction of a new parking system. With 84 percent of customers arriving by car, parking costs emerged as the primary complaint, alongside a desire for more specialized shops in the town’s approximately 600 commercial establishments.
The Wavre Hockey Village Initiative
The city has responded to the World Cup opportunity with an ambitious program designed to draw visitors from the stadium into the town center. As RTBF reports, the “Wavre Hockey Village” spans three central squares—Place Henri Berger, Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, and Place Cardinal Mercier—each offering distinct experiences.
“We created the Wavre Hockey Village on three squares in the town center,” explains Joëy Kumps, Wavre’s alderman for sports and events. “There will be different activities, entertainment, concerts, outdoor cinema, training sessions, and quite a few partnerships with local actors in Wavre.”
Matches will also be broadcast on giant screens to keep fans in town longer, while the ASBL Impala Performance of Mbo Mpenza will provide sports activities focused on inclusion, respect, and living together. According to La Libre, the Place Cardinal Mercier will feature a main stage with 100 percent Belgian music programming.
Shopkeepers Prepare for the Influx
Local merchants have embraced the occasion with visible enthusiasm. Dozens of shopkeepers have decorated their storefronts with hockey-themed displays, and many will offer gift vouchers to lucky customers drawn by lot.
“For us, it’s very interesting,” says Stéphanie Ghenne, an optician and co-president of the shopkeepers’ association. “People will be able to watch the matches and enjoy the infrastructure in the center. We hope there will be a dynamic.”
Caroline, manager of a small grocery store on Rue du Commerce, sees the event as an opportunity to introduce Belgian products to an international audience. “I sincerely hope to have customers who would never have come to Wavre before, or even foreign customers who can discover the products we sell here in Belgium,” she told RTBF. “I mainly sell Belgian products, so it would be great to introduce them to that.”
However, not everyone shares the same level of optimism. Valérie, owner of the antique shop Déco d’âge on Rue du Commerce, expressed skepticism in an interview with DH/Les Sports+: “I really like hockey and the spirit of this sport. People are nice and calm. I’d like to believe it, but I have trouble thinking supporters will come stroll through the center of Wavre. So far, nothing has moved; it’s super calm.”
A New Stadium as a Lasting Legacy
The centerpiece of Wavre’s hockey transformation is the Belfius Hockey Arena, a complete renovation of the former football stadium costing over 10 million euros. As RTBF reported, the stadium was inaugurated on April 1 with gala matches where both the Red Panthers and Red Lions defeated the Netherlands 3-2.
“It’s a project that started 5-6 years ago,” said Patrick Keusters, president of the Royal Belgian Hockey Association. “It was delayed and undermined by COVID and the inflation that followed. Finally, here we are with a stadium that has a permanent capacity of 4,000 seats, and we will increase the capacity to 10,000 for major events.”
After the World Cup, the arena will become the official “Maison du Hockey” (House of Hockey) in Belgium, ensuring a lasting sporting legacy for the city.
Cautious Optimism for Long-Term Impact
While the immediate economic boost from the tournament is expected to be significant—particularly for the Horeca (hotel, restaurant, and café) sector—city officials remain measured about the long-term implications.
“This world competition won’t change the city in fifteen days,” cautions Stéphanie Ghenne. “That’s too much hope. It will do good, but it will only be a first step.”
Alderman Kumps echoes this sentiment: “We obviously can’t measure now whether there will be a long-term impact. We’re putting everything in place for that to be the case, but of course we remain cautious.”
The World Cup will not alone solve Wavre’s structural attractiveness problems. But it may project a positive image of the city in search of renewal—and the challenge will be capitalizing on that momentum. As the tournament unfolds over the next two weeks, all eyes will be on whether the hopes invested in this international event translate into lasting change for Wavre’s town center.