BC Place

Last updated

BC Place
BC Place logo.png
BC Place 2015 Women's FIFA World Cup.jpg
Interior view during a Women's World Cup soccer match in June 2015
Vancouver (British Columbia) - OpenStreetMap.png
Red pog.svg
BC Place
Location in Vancouver
GVA-map.png
Red pog.svg
BC Place
Location in the Vancouver metro area
Canada British Columbia relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
BC Place
Location in British Columbia
Canada relief map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
BC Place
Location in Canada
Address
Coordinates 49°16′36″N123°6′43″W / 49.27667°N 123.11194°W / 49.27667; -123.11194
Public transit
Owner Province of British Columbia
Operator BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo)
Executive suites50 [1]
Capacity
  • 54,500
  • 27,695 (lower bowl)
  • 22,120 (MLS) [2]
Record attendance65,061 (September 2, 2023, Ed Sheeran, +–=÷× Tour) [3]
Surface FieldTurf
Construction
OpenedJune 19, 1983;41 years ago (1983-06-19)
Renovated
  • 2009 (interior)
  • 2011 (exterior and interior)
Construction cost
CA$341 million
    • Original – $126.1 million
    • ($341 million in 2023 dollars) [4]
    • Renovation – $514 million
    • ($674 million in 2023 dollars) [4]
Architect
  • Studio Phillips Barratt [5]
  • Stantec Architecture (renovation)
Tenants
Website
bcplace.com

BC Place is a multi-purpose stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Located at the north side of False Creek, it is owned and operated by the BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo), a crown corporation of the province.

Contents

The venue is currently the home of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL), Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer (MLS), the annual Canada Sevens (part of the World Rugby Sevens Series), as well as the BC Sports Hall of Fame.

Opened on June 19, 1983, BC Place was originally an indoor structure with an air-supported roof, the world's largest at the time. [6] [7] Following the 2010 Winter Olympics, it was closed for 16 months as part of an extensive revitalization, the centrepiece of which was replacing the inflatable roof with a retractable roof supported by cables. Once construction was completed, the stadium's new roof was also the largest of its type.

BC Place was the main stadium for the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2010 Winter Paralympics, the 2012 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, as well as a venue for multiple matches including the championship match for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. The stadium is set to host multiple matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including knockout stage matches.

History

Opening and 20th century

Exterior view of BC Place from the south, with its original roof, October 2005 B.C. Place from False Creek (cropped).jpg
Exterior view of BC Place from the south, with its original roof, October 2005

Construction of the stadium started in February of 1981, with Dillingham Construction contracted to build the stadium, designed by architecture firm Studio Phillips Barratt, Ltd. [5] BC Place was built as part of the preparations for the 1986 World's Fair, Expo 86. Upon its completion in 1983, the stadium, designed by structural engineers Geiger Berger Associates, [5] [8] was the world's largest air-supported domed stadium until May 4, 2010, when it was deflated for the last time in preparation for the erection of its new retractable roof. [9] Its original air-supported design was similar to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which later stored pieces of the roof for reuse. [10]

The stadium held its grand opening on June 19, 1983. [6] [7] The first major event held in the stadium came the next day, June 20, when the Vancouver Whitecaps hosted the Seattle Sounders in a Monday night North American Soccer League (NASL) game with attendance announced at 60,342. [11] [12] On June 23, 1983, the BC Lions played their first game at the new stadium, a preseason 41–19 victory against the Calgary Stampeders with 53,472 in attendance. [13] A month later, on July 24, 1983, a crowd of 41,810 watched the BC Lions defeat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 44–28 in the Lions' first regular season game at the stadium. [14] The venue would host the Soccer Bowl '83 and the 1983 Grey Cup game later that year. [15] [16] [17] On September 18, 1984, Pope John Paul II addressed an over-capacity crowd of 60,000 for "A Celebration of Life". The celebration was part of the papal visit to the Archdiocese of Vancouver. It was one of the most heavily attended events in the stadium. The Pope's Celebration of Life was followed a few months later by the Billy Graham Crusade, which drew similar numbers[ citation needed ] for eight nights. [18]

The stadium was then used for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1986 World Exposition on Transportation and Communication (Expo '86). Accepting an invitation by the Province of British Columbia, Prince Charles and Princess Diana presided over the opening ceremonies of the World's Fair on May 2, 1986. [18] In 1987, an exhibition match of Australian rules football was played at the stadium and drew a crowd of 32,789  – a record for the largest AFL/VFL crowd outside of Australia.[ citation needed ] The stadium also hosted a National Football League exhibition game in 1998 when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 24–21 in the American Bowl with 45,000 in attendance. [19]

BC Place Vancouver.jpg
Inside BC Place Stadium under original roof in July 2005

2007 roof deflation

On January 5, 2007, snow accumulated on the air-supported Teflon Fibreglass roof, despite strict zero accumulation of ice guidelines and ice accumulation structural warnings. The accumulation caused a tear in the roof's ETFE-coated fabric close to Gate G on the south side where the roof meets the top of the concrete bowl. [20] [21] The tear grew quickly as air escaped through it, whereupon maintenance staff performed an intentional, controlled deflation to protect the integrity of the roof's intact fabric panels. [22] As it was designed to do, the deflated roof rested on its steel support cables 6 metres (20 ft) above the seating and the field. Normally, the roof had a rise of 27 metres (90 ft) above the top of the bowl when inflated. [23] No one was injured during the incident, although rain and melted snow flooded the bowl and subsequently had to be pumped out.

An independent report indicated that an accidental rapid pressurization combined with lightly gusting wind and a location of previously undetected damage caused the tear. [24] The damaged panel was replaced with a temporary one on January 19 and the roof was re-inflated. [25] [26] The BC Contractors Association held an exhibition in the stadium over the week of January 23, [27] during which the roof leaked in several places when it rained. [28] The temporary panel was successfully replaced with a permanent one in June 2007, just prior to the start of the 2007 CFL season. [29]

Renovation and roof replacement

Renovation works at BC Place, including the construction of the retractable roof, viewed in April 2011 BCPlaceRoofApril2011.jpg
Renovation works at BC Place, including the construction of the retractable roof, viewed in April 2011
Exterior view of the stadium after its renovation, November 2014 BC Place Stadium - panoramio.jpg
Exterior view of the stadium after its renovation, November 2014

On May 16, 2008, it was announced that over $150 million in major renovations would be carried out on BC Place Stadium. The work was done in two phases. The first phase involved upgrades to seating, washrooms, concessions, and luxury suites, as well as the reinforcement of the existing ring beam at the top of the building [30] and was completed in October 2009, in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Work on the retractable roof began in May 2010, with PCL Westcoast Constructors Inc. contracted to construct the roof designed by architecture firm Stantec Architecture Ltd. and structural engineering firm Geiger Engineers, with Schlaich Bergermann & Partner serving as consulting engineers and Genivar, Inc. acting as services engineers. [31] Geiger also designed the stadium's new centre-hung scoreboard. [31] The roof's construction began immediately after the completion of the 2010 Winter Paralympics and the final deflation of the air-supported roof. The official budget for the completed Phase 1 upgrades plus the revitalization project was $514 million. [32] The new roof, a cable-supported retractable roof system first used with the Commerzbank-Arena in Frankfurt, Germany, [33] is the largest of its kind. [34] The opening measures 100 by 85 metres (109 by 93 yd), the same size as the field below. The fabric roof retracts into and is hidden by a pod in the centre of the opening, above the suspended videoboard. [35]

The updated stadium also features the second largest centre-hung high definition scoreboard in North America, after the one in AT&T Stadium. [36] In addition, a new artificial turf developed by Polytan was installed at an estimated cost of $1.2 million. It is designed to achieve FIFA 2-star certification, the highest rating possible. The soccer pitch is 117 by 75 yards (107 by 69 m). [37]

TSN analyst and former CFL player Chris Schultz praised both the design and engineering of the new stadium. [36] Columnist Brian Hutchinson has praised the renovations for significantly improving the acoustics, and providing a bright and airy feel to the stadium. These were aspects that were missing in its previous air-supported roof incarnation, as well as the Montreal Olympic Stadium and the Rogers Centre (formerly SkyDome). [34]

The artificial turf installed between September 2011 and April 2015 drew criticism, notably its lacklustre characteristics for playing professional level soccer. [38] [39] A new artificial turf was installed in May 2015, prior to the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015. The total cost of the turf upgrade was $1.327 million, with Canada Soccer and Rugby Canada contributing $500,000 CDN to the project. [40] Liam Middleton, Canada's Rugby Sevens coach, stated that the new surface was "better than some natural grass surfaces they've played on." [41]

Summary of renovations

  • New retractable roof is the largest cable supported retractable roof in the world. [42] [43]
  • Revolving doors replaced with clear glass doors, which allows the stadium to be accessed much more easily. [44]
  • Old brown glass around building replaced with light green glass which lets more light in and makes stadium brighter. [44]
  • BC Lions locker room completely expanded and refurbished: Old lockers were taken out, sanded down, refinished, and put back in. New cubicles were also put in with individual lighting for players. Locker room also sports a new floor called "sport floor". [44]
  • New synthetic turf, called Polytan LigaTurf RS+, was installed as the new playing surface. Turf has a 1+1⁄4 inches (32 mm) thick shock pad underneath the turf and special eco-friendly BionPro infill. [45]
  • A centre-hung high-definition scoreboard measuring 68 by 38 feet (21 m × 12 m). [45]
  • Around the stadium is a new 51 inches (1.3 m) electronic ribbon board, with a circumference of 2,200 feet (670 m). [42]
  • Added 1,140 new HDTV screens. Screens work through a system called Stadium Vision. Each screen runs on a separate video source, allowing menu boards at concourse concession stands to show game updates to fans as they order from concession stands. [46]
  • All concourses widened and refurbished. [44]
  • Added 140 additional portable concession stands. Storage of food and supplies will be in concession stands. [46]
  • 50 fully refurbished private suites and 1,300 newly refurbished premium Club Seats. [47] [48] [49]
  • Wheel chair seating now at every price point and level of the stadium. [42]
  • New upgraded washrooms, and access ramps with new lighting. [50]
  • New state of the art sound system. [42]
  • New wider seats: seats or 20 inches (51 cm) wide with cup holders on every seat. [42]
  • New sport lighting in stadium: 10% of lighting replaced by hot strip lighting, which gives instant on and off. [42]

Post-renovation

BC Place during the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics Vancouver 2010 opening ceremony.jpg
BC Place during the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics
Scene inside BC Place prior to the start of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Final BC Place (19186581723) (2).jpg
Scene inside BC Place prior to the start of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Final

The opening and closing ceremonies of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the opening ceremonies of the X Paralympic Winter Games were also held in BC Place Stadium in February and March 2010, respectively. The stadium was the first air-supported structure and 24th venue to host the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics. It was also both the third CFL venue and the third Canadian venue to have served as an Olympic Stadium, after Montreal's Olympic Stadium and Calgary's McMahon Stadium.[ citation needed ]

The 47th Vanier Cup was the first Canadian university football championship paired with the Grey Cup Festival and played on November 25, 2011, between the McMaster Marauders and Laval Rouge et Or in front of 24,935. Nicknamed "Best Game... Ever", [51] it is widely regarded as one of the most exciting Canadian Football games of all time [52] with McMaster winning 41–38 in double overtime. It was the first championship played in the newly renovated facility.[ citation needed ]

The 2012 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament final between the United States and Canada played at the stadium was the highest attendance for a women's CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying game with 25,427 people in attendance. [53]

The 2014 NHL Heritage Classic took place March 2, 2014, in BC Place, with the Ottawa Senators facing off against the home team Vancouver Canucks. [54] It was the first NHL game to be played in a retractable roof stadium. [55]

BC Place hosted its second major international sports competition, the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Five group stage matches, two round of 16 matches, and one quarter-final were held in the stadium during June 2015, and the Final between Japan and the United States was played here on July 5, 2015. [56] The Canada women's national team played Australia at BC Place on December 5, 2023, as part of a farewell tour for Christine Sinclair. The stadium was temporarily renamed to Christine Sinclair Place in her honor. [57]

The stadium hosted round six of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2015–16 series. [58]

A new overall attendance record was set on September 2, 2023, with 65,061 people attending an Ed Sheeran concert, surpassing the previous record of 63,803 set by a U2 concert in 2009. [3] In December 2024, BC Place will host three shows for Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour. [59]

Tenants

Interior scene at BC Place during a 2011 Major League Soccer season match between the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Real Salt Lake BC Place - night game (6219415118).jpg
Interior scene at BC Place during a 2011 Major League Soccer season match between the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Real Salt Lake

BC Place's main sports tenants are the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer (MLS). The Vancouver Nighthawks, a member of the World Basketball League, played the 1988 season at BC Place. [60]

Canadian football

The Lions have played at BC Place since it opened in 1983 and had a record attendance of 59,478 for three games in 1985 and 1986. [61] When it was built, the floor of BC Place was too small to accommodate a full-sized CFL regulation field, as a result BC Place became the first CFL stadium to use a 20-yard end zone instead of the regulation 25-yard end zone then in use. Although controversial at first, the smaller end zone proved highly popular with players and was adopted league-wide in 1986. [62]

The stadium has hosted the CFL's championship game, the Grey Cup, nine times: in 1983, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1994, 1999, 2005, 2011, and 2014. Notable was the 1994 championship, in which the hometown BC Lions defeated the U.S. expansion team the Baltimore Football Club on a last-second field goal by Lui Passaglia, preventing the Grey Cup trophy from leaving Canada (Baltimore would win the Grey Cup the following year). The stadium hosted the 99th Grey Cup in 2011 after the new roof was completed (this Grey Cup game was also won by the BC Lions at home). [63]

Soccer

Several incarnations of the Whitecaps have played at BC Place. The original Vancouver Whitecaps of the North American Soccer League (NASL) played at the stadium from 1983 to 1984, when the team folded. [64] The team hosted the first sporting event at BC Place, a regular season match against the Seattle Sounders on June 20, 1983, which drew 60,342 spectators. [61] Soccer Bowl '83 was also held at BC Place, where the Tulsa Roughnecks defeated the Toronto Blizzard 2–0 in front of 53,326 spectators. [65]

The stadium was also used for exhibition matches as well as Canada national team fixtures during the 1980s and 1990s. The second incarnation of the Whitecaps, initially named the Vancouver 86ers, played exhibition matches at BC Place in 1991 and 1992 before returning for regular season games in 1995 during renovations to Swangard Stadium. [66] On November 7, 2007, the Whitecaps hosted the LA Galaxy for an exhibition match that drew 48,172 spectators—mainly attracted by the appearance of David Beckham. [67]

On August 21, 2021, the Whitecaps played their first home game at BC Place since the COVID-19 pandemic after being forced to stay in the United States for the 2020 season and the first half of the 2021 season. They won 2–1 against Los Angeles FC.

After the Whitecaps joined MLS and moved into the renovated BC Place, the team only sold seats in the lower bowl. They drew a record of 27,683 spectators for a regular season match against Seattle Sounders FC in 2018 without opening the upper bowl. [61] The restriction was lifted for a 2023 playoff match against Los Angeles FC on November 5, 2023; the match had 30,204 spectators. [68] The team set their new MLS attendance record on May 25, 2024, with 51,035 spectators during a regular season match against Inter Miami CF who had signed football legend Lionel Messi the year prior. [69]

2015 FIFA Women's World Cup

DateTeam #1ResultTeam #2RoundAttendance
June 8, 2015Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 6–0Flag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador Group C25,942
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1–0Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland 25,942
June 12, 2015Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland 10–1Flag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador 31,441
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 2–1Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 31,441
June 16, 2015Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 0–1Flag of the United States.svg  United States Group D52,193
June 21, 2015Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1–0Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Round of 1653,855
June 23, 2015Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 2–1Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 28,717
June 27, 2015Flag of England.svg  England 2–1Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Quarterfinal54,027
July 5, 2015Flag of the United States.svg  United States 5–2Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Final 54,027

2026 FIFA World Cup

BC Place will host seven matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of two Canadian venues alongside BMO Field in Toronto. Among them are five group stage matches, including two home games for the Canada national team on June 18 and 24, and two knockout stage matches: one in the round of 32 and another in the round of 16. [70] The provincial government estimates that it will cost $240–260 million to stage, plan, and host the matches at BC Place. [71]

Baseball

BC Place can also be used in a baseball configuration to attract a future Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise. [72] It can accommodate a baseball diamond with retractable seating sections making room for right field. The Vancouver Canadians of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League played several series of games there between 1984 and 1988, including games 1 and 2 of the 1985 league championship series. Numerous MLB spring training games were also played, including in 1984 (Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers), 1986 (Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Montreal Expos and Seattle Mariners), 1993 (Toronto, Seattle, Milwaukee and Detroit Tigers) and 1994 MLB season (Toronto, Seattle, Montreal and Colorado Rockies). [73] The Mariners explored plans to play regular season games at BC Place in the mid-1990s, [74] but were unable to receive approval from MLB. [75] [76]

In the mid-1990s, the stadium was planned to be the home of the yet-to-be named Vancouver team, a charter franchise of the United League (UL) which was planned to be a third league of MLB; it never came to fruition. [77] [78]

Transportation

An Expo Line SkyTrain pulling into Stadium-Chinatown station, located adjacent to BC Place SkyTrain Mark III arriving at Stadium Chinatown Station.jpg
An Expo Line SkyTrain pulling into Stadium–Chinatown station, located adjacent to BC Place

The stadium is served by two SkyTrain stations on two lines: the Expo Line (TransLink)'s Stadium–Chinatown to the East, and the Canada Line's Yaletown–Roundhouse to the west. TransLink also operates several bus routes that stop near BC Place. [79] The False Creek Ferries and Aquabus also serve the stadium, docking at the nearby Plaza of Nations.

Accolades

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vancouver Whitecaps (1986–2010)</span> Defunct Canadian soccer club

The Vancouver Whitecaps were a Canadian professional soccer club based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Founded in 1986, the team played its final year in the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid in the NASL Conference of the USSF Division 2 Professional League coached by Teitur Thordarson. The team played its home games at Swangard Stadium in nearby Burnaby, British Columbia. The team's colours were blue and white.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commonwealth Stadium</span> Multiuse stadium in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Commonwealth Stadium is an open-air, multipurpose stadium located in the McCauley neighbourhood of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It has a seating capacity of 56,302, making it the largest open-air stadium in Canada. Primarily used for Canadian football, it also hosts athletics, soccer, rugby union and concerts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Empire Stadium (Vancouver)</span> Former sporting venue in British Columbia, Canada

Empire Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium that stood at the Pacific National Exhibition site at Hastings Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Track and field and Canadian football, as well as soccer, rugby and musical events, were held at the stadium. The stadium was originally constructed for the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. The stadium hosted both Elvis Presley and The Beatles. It saw most of its use as the home of the BC Lions of the CFL from 1954 to 1982, in which the venue also played host to the first Grey Cup game held west of Ontario in 1955. Empire Stadium also hosted the Grey Cup game in 1958, 1960, 1963, 1966, 1971, and 1974; seven times in total.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vancouver Whitecaps FC (women)</span> Former womens soccer club in Vancouver, British Columbia

The Vancouver Whitecaps FC women was a Canadian soccer club based in Vancouver, British Columbia that played in the USL W-League, the second tier of women's soccer in the United States and Canada. The team was formed in 2001 under the name Vancouver Breakers following a merger of the Vancouver Lady 86ers and Vancouver Angels. In 2003, they changed their name to the Whitecaps to match the men's team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in Vancouver</span> Overview of sports traditions and activities in Vancouver

There have been a wide variety of sports in Vancouver since the city was founded. Team sports such as ice hockey, lacrosse, and Canadian football have extensive history in the area, while the city's relatively mild climate and geographical location facilitate a wide variety of other sports and recreational activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thunderbird Stadium</span> Canadian Stadium

Thunderbird Stadium is an outdoor stadium on the University Endowment Lands in British Columbia, Canada. It is located west of Vancouver's city limits, and is primarily used for soccer and football by the UBC Thunderbirds. It seats 3,500 in the main grandstand, plus grass seating for about 5,000 people on the west side and ends of the stadium, and by using the surrounding grass embankment the facility can accommodate up to 12,000 spectators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multi-purpose stadium</span> Stadium designed for multifunctionality over specificity

A multi-purpose stadium is a type of stadium designed to be easily used for multiple types of events. While any stadium could potentially host more than one type of sport or event, this concept usually refers to a design philosophy that stresses multifunctionality over speciality. It is used most commonly in Canada and the United States, where the two most popular outdoor team sports—Canadian football or American football and baseball—require radically different facilities. Football uses a rectangular field, while baseball is played on a diamond with a large outfield. Since Canadian football fields are larger than American ones, the design specifications for Canadian facilities are somewhat less demanding. The particular design to accommodate both is usually an oval, although some later designs use an octorad. While building stadiums in this way means that sports teams and governments can share costs, it also presents some challenges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vancouver Whitecaps (1974–1984)</span> Defunct Canadian soccer club

The original Vancouver Whitecaps were a professional soccer team founded on December 11, 1973. During the 1970s and 1980s they played in the North American Soccer League (NASL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croix-Bleue Medavie Stadium</span> University track and field stadium in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada

Croix-Bleue Medavie Stadium, formerly Moncton Stadium, is a track and field stadium on the campus of the Université de Moncton in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, built to host the IAAF 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics. The $17 million venue opened in 2010. Although seating capacity had fluctuated early in construction, the stadium has 8,300 permanent seats, and is expandable to 25,000 via temporary seating. It is the home field for the Moncton Aigles Bleus soccer teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Starlight Stadium</span> Multi-purpose stadium in Langford, British Columbia

Starlight Stadium is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Langford, British Columbia, Canada. It is used by Pacific FC of the Canadian Premier League for soccer, by Rugby Canada for various events, and by the Westshore Rebels junior Canadian football team. In an international context, its most notable usage is as the site of the Canada Women's Sevens, an event in the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series for national rugby sevens teams. The stadium also hosted the BC Bears of the Canadian Rugby Championship from 2009 to 2013, and the Victoria Highlanders soccer team from 2009 to 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">99th Grey Cup</span> 2011 Canadian Football championship game

The 99th Grey Cup was a Canadian football game between the East Division champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the West Division champion BC Lions to decide the champion of the Canadian Football League in the 2011 season. The Lions defeated the Blue Bombers 34–23 and became the first team in CFL history to win the Grey Cup after starting the season with five straight losses. They also became the first team to win the championship game at home since the 1994 Lions did it in the 82nd Grey Cup, and were only the fourth team in the modern era to do so. This, a rematch of the 76th Grey Cup, was the second time that these two teams met for the championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vancouver Whitecaps FC</span> Soccer club in Canada

Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Vancouver. They compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member club of the league's Western Conference. The MLS iteration of the club was established on March 18, 2009, and began play in 2011 as the 17th team to enter Major League Soccer while replacing the USSF Division 2 team of the same name in the city, making them a phoenix club and the third to carry the Whitecaps name. The club has been owned and managed by the same group since their USSF days.

The 2011 CFL season was the 58th season of modern-day Canadian football. Officially, it was the 54th season of the Canadian Football League. The complete schedule was released on February 18 and featured the defending Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes opening the season against the visiting BC Lions on Thursday, June 30, 2011. The season was among the most notable in the modern era for the competitiveness of the teams; going into the final week, five teams were tied for first place in the league, a first in modern CFL history. It was also the first time since 1982 that all teams finished with fewer than 12 wins in the regular season. As well, for the first time since 1950, the start of the modern era, all four teams competing in the division finals were different from the four teams that had competed in the division finals the previous year. Newly renovated BC Place Stadium in Vancouver hosted the 99th Grey Cup on November 27, with the hometown Lions defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 34–23 in front of a sold-out crowd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Empire Field</span>

Empire Field was a temporary Canadian football and soccer stadium built at Hastings Park in the Canadian city of Vancouver, British Columbia. Located on the site of the former Empire Stadium, the 27,528 spectator venue was constructed to allow a new retractable roof to be installed at BC Place in 2010 and 2011. Empire Field was home to the Canadian Football League's (CFL) BC Lions for the 2010 and part of the 2011 seasons, and for Major League Soccer's (MLS) Vancouver Whitecaps FC for part of their debut 2011 season.

The history of Vancouver Whitecaps FC, a professional soccer team based in Vancouver, Canada, spans over four decades. The first team to use the "Whitecaps" name was the Vancouver Whitecaps of the now-defunct North American Soccer League, playing from 1974 to 1984. After two years while the core of the players were focused on preparations for the 1986 World Cup, a second version of the club was founded in 1986 as the Vancouver 86ers. This team bought back the Whitecaps name in 2000 and has operated continuously in various leagues since 1986. A Whitecaps FC team began play in Major League Soccer starting in 2011 making it the first time since 1984 that a "Whitecaps" team played in the top tier of soccer in the United States and Canada.

The 2015 Canadian Championship was a soccer tournament hosted and organized by the Canadian Soccer Association. It was the eighth edition of the annual Canadian Championship, and took place in the cities of Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver in 2015. The participating teams were Ottawa Fury FC and FC Edmonton of the North American Soccer League, the second-level of the Canadian Soccer Pyramid, and Montreal Impact, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer, the first-level of Canadian club soccer. Montreal Impact were the two-time defending champions.

The 2016 Canadian Championship was a soccer tournament hosted and organized by the Canadian Soccer Association. It was the ninth edition of the annual Canadian Championship, and took place in the cities of Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver in 2016. The participating teams were Ottawa Fury FC and FC Edmonton of the second-division North American Soccer League, and the Montreal Impact, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer, the first-level of Canadian club soccer. The Vancouver Whitecaps were the reigning champions; having won their first title in the 2015 competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seattle Sounders–Vancouver Whitecaps rivalry</span> Soccer rivalry

The Seattle Sounders–Vancouver Whitecaps rivalry is a soccer rivalry between Seattle Sounders FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, both based in the Pacific Northwest region. The rivalry originated in the North American Soccer League of the 1970s, with both cities reviving expansion teams, and has carried into lower-level leagues, including the A-League and USL First Division. The rivalry moved to Major League Soccer, the top division of soccer in the United States and Canada, in 2011. The two clubs are part of the Cascadia Cup, the trophy and competition created in 2004 by supporters of the Portland Timbers, Vancouver Whitecaps, and the Seattle Sounders which is awarded each season to the best top-flight soccer team in the Cascadia region.

The 2023 Canadian Championship was the sixteenth edition of the Canadian Championship, the premier men's domestic cup competition in Canadian soccer, and the 22nd competition staged to determine the winner of the Voyageurs Cup. It was a knockout tournament with all eleven professional men's soccer teams in Canada, from Major League Soccer and the Canadian Premier League, competing, along with the champions of the three semi-professional League1 Canada competitions. The tournament marked the first Voyageurs Cup campaign for FC Laval, TSS FC Rovers and Vancouver FC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 BC Lions season</span> CFL team season

The 2023 BC Lions season was the 65th season for the team in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and their 69th overall. The Lions qualified for the playoffs for the second straight season following their week 14 win over the Edmonton Elks. After defeating the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final, the Lions lost to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the West Final.

References

  1. ↑ "Pacific Rim Suites - BC Place" . Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Whitecaps expand lower bowl capacity at B.C. Place to 22,120". March 4, 2016. Archived from the original on May 9, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Carrigg, David (September 3, 2023). "British superstar Ed Sheeran breaks B.C. Place attendance record". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  4. 1 2 1688 to 1923: Geloso, Vincent, A Price Index for Canada, 1688 to 1850 (December 6, 2016). Afterwards, Canadian inflation numbers based on Statistics Canada tables 18-10-0005-01 (formerly CANSIM 326-0021) "Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted". Statistics Canada. Retrieved April 17, 2021. and table 18-10-0004-13 "Consumer Price Index by product group, monthly, percentage change, not seasonally adjusted, Canada, provinces, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit". Statistics Canada. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 "BC Place Stadium – Tensile Membrane Structures Sample Application". Makmax.com. Archived from the original on December 14, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Vancouver's new stadium all set to go". Calgary Herald. Canadian Press. June 20, 1983. p. A3. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Canada's first domed stadium ready for action". Leader Post. Canadian Press. June 20, 1983. p. B3. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  8. ↑ Cyganiak, Marcus. "Vancouver Skyline to Change Forever – BC Place Deflated for Good". Buyric.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  9. ↑ "BC Place roof drops in final deflation". CBC News. May 4, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  10. ↑ Nelson, Tim (December 30, 2010). "Minneapolis is home to a second defunct dome". Minnesota Public Radio . Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Whitecaps electrify 60,342 with 2-1 victory". Calgary Herald. Canadian Press. June 21, 1983. p. E3. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022– via Google News Archive.
  12. ↑ Fudge, Simon (September 13, 2011). "Whitecaps and Sounders raise the curtain on BC Place back in 1983". WhitecapsFC.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
  13. ↑ "CFL Results June 23, 1983 Calgary 19 @ BC 41 on CFLdb Statistics". stats.cfldb.ca. Archived from the original on January 3, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Remembering the thrill of when BC Place first opened". CFL.ca. September 30, 2011. Archived from the original on June 16, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Grey Cup: 1983". Canadian Football League. Archived from the original on August 20, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Lakeland Ledger" . Retrieved December 30, 2016– via Google News Archive Search.
  17. ↑ Phillips, Randy (August 28, 1978). "Tulsa captures Soccer Bowl with dull victory over Blizzard". The Gazette . p. D-5, D-8. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  18. 1 2 Mackie, John (June 17, 2023). "A look back at highlights and firsts as B.C. Place turns 40". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  19. ↑ "No Moon at all on losing night". The Spokesman-Review . Associated Press. August 16, 1998. p. C3. Retrieved July 1, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "B.C. Place Stadium's inflated roof collapses (05/01/2007)". CTV.ca. January 5, 2007. Archived from the original on April 7, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  21. ↑ "The roof at B.C. Place stadium deflated after tear". Vancouver Sun. January 5, 2007. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2011– via Canada.com.
  22. ↑ "Vancouver Sun – The roof at B.C. Place stadium deflated after tear (01/05/2007)". Canada.com. January 5, 2007. Archived from the original on November 11, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  23. ↑ "Structural Engineering Slide Library – Modern domes: Air-supported dome". Nisee.berkeley.edu. Archived from the original on June 13, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  24. ↑ "Human error a factor in BC Place roof trouble". January 13, 2007. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  25. ↑ "Teflon roof of B.C. Place Stadium reinflated". CTV.ca. CTVglobemedia. January 19, 2007. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2007.
  26. ↑ "Stadium dome returns to Vancouver skyline". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. January 19, 2007. Archived from the original on January 21, 2007. Retrieved January 19, 2007.
  27. ↑ "Main Exhibition Contractor". Archived from the original on November 23, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  28. ↑ "B.C. Place's reopening marred by leaking roof". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. January 24, 2007. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  29. ↑ "BC Place Permanent Roof Panel Installation" Archived July 4, 2007, at the Wayback Machine , BC Place Stadium press release, June 14, 2007.
  30. ↑ Vision 2011 Archived November 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine BC Place 2008/09/04
  31. 1 2 Ansell, Lauren. "Northern Light". Stadia Magazine. Archived from the original on March 9, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  32. ↑ "FACTSHEET: BC Place Budget | BC Newsroom". Newsroom.gov.bc.ca. January 18, 2013. Archived from the original on February 19, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  33. ↑ "Local MLS bid still on, investor says". The Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  34. 1 2 Hutchinson, Brian. "Finally, B.C. Place is a Retractable-Roof Stadium That Works". National Post. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  35. ↑ "The New Stadium – BC Place". Bcplacestadium.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2015. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  36. 1 2 "Schultz: Renovated B.C. Place among world's best stadiums". The Sports Network. October 3, 2011. Archived from the original on October 20, 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  37. ↑ Constantineau, Bruce (September 24, 2011). "Empire falls, Whitecaps hope BC Place provides kick-start". The Province. Retrieved September 24, 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  38. ↑ "Toronto FC set to open anticipated ninth season". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  39. ↑ "Robbie Keane slams unacceptable BC Place pitch". CSN. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  40. ↑ "New surface selected for BC Place". whitecapsfc.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  41. ↑ Johnston, Patrick. "Canada Sevens day one live blog". The Province. The Province Newspaper. Archived from the original on August 29, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  42. 1 2 3 4 5 6 BC Lions (September 29, 2011). "BC Place: Level 4". YouTube. Archived from the original on August 3, 2016.
  43. ↑ VIDEO: David Campbell on building the new BC Place roof. Journal of Commerce. September 26, 2011. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2021– via YouTube.
  44. 1 2 3 4 BC Place: Entrance & Lions Locker Room https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aceXPXMrkBg Archived August 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  45. 1 2 BC Place: New turf and centre-hung videoboard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lXXTemvZ3o Archived December 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  46. 1 2 BC Place: Level 2 http://www.bclions.com/video/index/id/21033 Archived December 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  47. ↑ "Suites and Club Seats – BC Place". Bcplacestadium.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
  48. ↑ Suites sneak peek https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9_1MJgSvoI Archived June 10, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  49. ↑ "BC Place | Vancouver Whitecaps FC". Whitecapsfc.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
  50. ↑ "Accessibility – BC Place". Bcplacestadium.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
  51. ↑ TSN presents complete coverage of 48th Vanier Cup Archived July 28, 2013, at the Wayback Machine . Tsn.ca (November 20, 2012). Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  52. ↑ "'One of the greatest games' ever seen". TheSpec. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  53. ↑ MacMahon, Martin. "Canada no match for USA". Sportsnet. Archived from the original on January 31, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
  54. ↑ Winnipeg Free Press, "Reports:NHL adds 5 outdoor games in 2014, including Heritage Classic in Vancouver" Archived June 14, 2013, at the Wayback Machine , Canadian Press, April 16, 2013
  55. ↑ "Canucks to host Sens at BC Place in 2014 NHL Heritage Classic". CBC Sports. July 10, 2013. Archived from the original on September 30, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  56. ↑ "FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™ - Vancouver". FIFA. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  57. ↑ "B.C. Place Stadium will be Christine Sinclair Place for soccer great's last international match". CBC Sports. November 27, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  58. ↑ "HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2015–16: Schedule, calendar fixtures and results" . The Daily Telegraph. March 7, 2016. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  59. ↑ Watson, Bridgette (November 2, 2023). "Taylor Swift to bring Eras Tour to Vancouver for 3 nights in December 2024". CBC News. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  60. ↑ nurun.com. "B.C. Place's roof facing its last days | Vancouver 24 hrs". Vancouver.24hrs.ca. Archived from the original on July 28, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  61. 1 2 3 Adams, J.J. (November 1, 2023). "Playoffs push B.C. Lions, Whitecaps attendance into stratosphere (or at least the upper bowl)". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  62. ↑ O'Brien, Steve (November 2005). The Canadian Football League: The Phoenix of Professional Sports Leagues (Revised Edition): The Phoenix of Professional Sports Leagues. Lulu.com. ISBN   9781411658608.
  63. ↑ CFL.ca – History of the Grey Cup Archived August 31, 2018, at the Wayback Machine (Accessed January 5, 2007)
  64. ↑ Timko, Brandon (June 1, 2010). "Chapter 1: NASL 1974 to 1984". WhitecapsFC.com. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  65. ↑ Yannis, Alex (October 2, 1983). "Roughnecks Capture Soccer Bowl, 2-0". The New York Times. sec. 5, p. 3. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  66. ↑ Fudge, Simon (September 27, 2011). "Soccer at BC Place: Post NASL era - 1985 to 1995". WhitecapsFC.com. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  67. ↑ Carrigg, David (November 8, 2007). "Fans flock to see Beckham". The Province. p. A3. Retrieved November 5, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  68. ↑ Adams, J.J. (November 5, 2023). "LAFC 1, Whitecaps 0: Refs ruin the night for Caps and their record crowd". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  69. ↑ Karstens-Smith, Gemma (May 25, 2024). "No Messi, no problem: Inter Miami downs slumping Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1". The Province. The Canadian Press. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  70. ↑ Williams, Rob (February 4, 2024). "Vancouver will host 7 matches at 2026 FIFA World Cup". Daily Hive. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  71. ↑ Adams, J.J. (June 17, 2022). "Game On: Vancouver crowned as 2026 FIFA World Cup host city". The Province. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  72. ↑ "Arizona Diamondbacks visit included look at "long term" viability of MLB in Vancouver | Offside". Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  73. ↑ "Baseball in B.C. Place: a thing of the past?". Vancouver Courier. August 18, 2011. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  74. ↑ Borst, Don (July 30, 1995). "Vancouver waits patiently for baseball franchise". The News Tribune . p. D7. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  75. ↑ Little, Lyndon (May 24, 1996). "B.C. Place looking to land three separate 2-game Mariners' series in '97". The Vancouver Sun. p. C10. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  76. ↑ Little, Lyndon (March 10, 1995). "M's unfazed by UBL's B.C. foothold". The Vancouver Sun. p. A14. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  77. ↑ Bell, Terry (August 18, 1995). "UBL steps to plate". The Province. p. A56. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  78. ↑ United League Strikes Out Archived May 20, 2016, at the Wayback Machine The Gainesville Sun April 12, 1996.
  79. ↑ Kiedaisch, Zach (August 17, 2021). "How to take transit to events at Rogers Arena and BC Place". The Buzzer. TransLink. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  80. ↑ "BC Place overhaul earns stadium award". The Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on May 20, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  81. ↑ "NCSEA Awards Program". NCSEA. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  82. ↑ "2012 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards Press Release" (PDF). ACEC. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 15, 2014. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  83. ↑ "Global Best Project Winner Sports/Entertainment: BC Place Revitalization". Engineering News-Record. Archived from the original on July 6, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.