BC Place renovations (prior to FIFA)

[Stats Junkie]

Renovations expected to cost between $149 million and $196 million (April numbers) have already started at BC Place. Some of the updates were already planned with renovations to be completed prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-place-stadium-vancouver-fifa-world-cup-renovations-upgrades

Most of the updates will be on the 100 and 300 levels - areas rarely visited by the average patron.

On the 200 & 400 levels, washrooms will be updated.

The Edgewater Lounge, located on the 300 level in the east end zone, will be changed from a premium experience to a general admission section.

The 100 level has been a construction zone throughout the 2024 season (paused in late October). New features will include:

• Relocated BC Hall of Fame & Sports Museum
• Upgraded meeting halls to be used as convention centre style rooms
• Centrefield entrance for FIFA World Cup
• Upgraded dressing rooms including single stall showers

The most noticeable feature was expected to be a new centre hung scoreboard. Based on a recent update, the existing structure of the old scoreboard will be used with new screens added to the 4 sides.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-place-stadium-video-board-replacement

Still up for debate is whether the grass field to be installed for the FIFA World Cup will be kept as a permanent feature for the BC Lions & Vancouver Whitecaps.

[Stats Junkie]

One year from now, July 15, 2026, PavCo regains full operations of BC Place. That is the first date that home games can be scheduled at BC Place in 2026 for the BC Lions and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Speculation is that the BC Lions want to play at least 2 home games at an alternate location while FIFA has full control of BC Place. They have until September 1, 2025 to advise the CFL of their intentions.

Possible locations:
A.    Royal Athletic Park (Victoria) – Expanded capacity was 14,000 for Touchdown Pacific. It took a lot of arm pulling (and some $) to convince the Victoria HarbourCats to vacate the stadium for an extended period of time to accommodate Touchdown Pacific last season. Not a likely option.
B.    Starlight Stadium (Langford) – Capacity 6500 with little room to expand much further.
C.    Hillside Stadium (Kamloops) – Capacity 1300. It has been the site of the BC Lions training camp for some time. Not an ideal location for a game.
D.    Apple Bowl (Kelowna) – Capacity 2300. Largest attendance was 6200 for a CPL game in 2024.
E.    Thunderbird Stadium (UBC) – Capacity 3500 (expandable to 10,000). One of the FIFA practice facilities will be located at UBC which could be an issue.
F.    Terry Fox Field (SFU) – Capacity 1800 with limited expandability.
G.    Swangard Stadium (Burnaby) – Capacity 5300 with plans to expand to 6500 to accommodate the needs of Vancouver Rise FC (NSL). There is room to expand to 10,000 but that eliminates most of the parking on site. Swangard is located within walking distance of the Expo Line (SkyTrain).
H.    Willoughby Community Park (Langley) – Capacity 6600. The modular stadium is home to Vancouver FC (CPL). I'm not sure if the stadium could accommodate a CFL field (end zones).

One idea bandied about is that the BC Lions could build a 20,000 seat temporary stadium.
I.    Empire Fields (Vancouver) – The legacy project of the Empire Field (2010-2011) and the Women's World Cup (2015), Empire Fields is the home of 2 turf fields. There is no desire to destroy what is presently there.
J.    BC Lions Practice Facility (?) – This option is intriguing. The BC Lions lease on their current practice facility expires in a couple of years and they are actively looking for a new site to purchase. If done in time, they could erect a temporary facility on the new site then keep the field as the focal point for their new practice facility.

[gobombersgo]

The Lions can start using BC Place on July 15th?

They should just suck it up and schedule 2 byes and 4 away games to start the season.

Lot less headaches then trying to find another place to play.

Then they would also have the benefit of playing 9 home games at a renovated BC Place.

The Argos have to figure out a plan as well, but have a few better options.

They can play at the University of Guelph or the TiCats Stadium. Not sure if they would want to play a regular season game at Varsity due to the limited seating capacity.

[RebusRankin]

Did we not have 4 road games to start 2012 because PAS was supposed to be ready that year but not at the start of the season?

[TecnoGenius]

They should just suck it up and schedule 2 byes and 4 away games to start the season.

Well, since the CFL really likes these "TD <city name here>", do 1-2 byes, away games and one "home" game in <wherever BC>.  Fans seem to like it too, although if you're a STH and don't like to drive a long way it probably sucks rocks.

[The Zipp]

Well, since the CFL really likes these "TD <city name here>", do 1-2 byes, away games and one "home" game in <wherever BC>.  Fans seem to like it too, although if you're a STH and don't like to drive a long way it probably sucks rocks.

the one game in Victoria would be pretty neat - seems like the only viable alternative.  some road games, maybe a bye and one game in Victoria seems reasonable.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

the one game in Victoria would be pretty neat - seems like the only viable alternative.  some road games, maybe a bye and one game in Victoria seems reasonable.

The Langford pre-season game also seemed pretty successful, although I don't know if they have the same capacity as Victoria.  I'd like to see them build a decent stadium around Abbotsford-Chilliwack, those old people don't have much to do and would be a prime CFL audience.