BC Place — Vancouver's Iconic Sports & Entertainment Centre
Canada's first domed stadium. A 2010 Olympic venue. Home of the BC Lions and Vancouver Whitecaps — under North America's largest cable-supported retractable roof.
History & Construction
BC Place opened in June 1983 as the first domed stadium in Canada, built at a cost of CAD $126 million on the former rail yards of False Creek in downtown Vancouver. Its original air-supported dome — a vast white bubble visible across the city — immediately became a landmark of the Pacific Northwest skyline.
Owned by the Province of British Columbia and managed by BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo), the stadium was designed to anchor the redevelopment of a derelict industrial zone that would eventually become the vibrant neighbourhood it is today. From its first season it hosted BC Lions CFL games, rock concerts, and trade shows, proving its worth as a multi-purpose civic asset.
Its location — a short walk from downtown hotels, the SkyTrain network, and the scenic seawall — made it one of the most accessible major stadiums in North America from the day it opened.
The 2011 Transformation
A CAD $563 million renovation — completed in 2011 — gave BC Place a second life and an entirely new identity. The ageing air-supported dome was replaced with what is now the world's largest cable-supported retractable roof, an engineering feat that can open or close in roughly 20 minutes.
The new roof uses a lightweight ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) membrane supported by 24 steel cables radiating from a central ring. When closed it creates a fully enclosed, weather-proof environment; when open, it floods the stadium with the natural light and mountain air Vancouver is celebrated for.
The renovation also overhauled seating, concourses, sight lines, and the FieldTurf playing surface — transforming a functional but dated arena into a world-class venue capable of attracting international events well into the twenty-first century.
CFL & MLS Home
BC Place is one of only two stadiums in North America that serves as the permanent home ground of both a Canadian Football League and a Major League Soccer franchise. The BC Lions have played at the venue since it opened in 1983, accumulating multiple Grey Cup championships and building one of the CFL's most loyal fan bases.
The Vancouver Whitecaps joined MLS in 2011 and have called BC Place home ever since, playing in front of crowds that regularly test the venue's soccer-configuration capacity. The overlap between a football and a soccer tenant demands precise turf management and flexible seating configurations — a logistical challenge BC Place handles with experience built over decades.
Beyond its two anchor tenants, BC Place also hosts international soccer friendlies featuring the Canadian men's and women's national teams, making it one of the most prominent football and soccer venues in the country.
Olympic Legacy
When Vancouver hosted the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, BC Place took centre stage for both the opening and closing ceremonies — two of the most-watched television events in Canadian broadcast history. The ceremonies introduced BC Place to a global audience of billions, showcasing the stadium's ability to be transformed into a theatrical environment beyond sport.
The Olympic association reinforced the venue's status as a national gathering place, and the renovation that followed just one year later was partly driven by the momentum and international attention the Games brought to Vancouver. That legacy shapes how the city and the province continue to position BC Place when bidding for major international tournaments.
The stadium has since hosted FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, international rugby tests, and championship boxing events — each time drawing on the reputation built during those Winter Games ceremonies in February 2010.
Stadium Features
Mountain Backdrop
Open the retractable roof on a clear day and the North Shore mountains frame the stadium bowl — a panorama no indoor arena anywhere in North America can replicate.
Retractable Roof Engineering
The world's largest cable-supported retractable roof is a feat of engineering worth arriving early to watch in motion. The 20-minute opening sequence is itself a spectacle.
Downtown Walkability
BC Place sits steps from Stadium–Chinatown SkyTrain station and within easy walking distance of hundreds of bars, restaurants, and hotels in central Vancouver.
Grey Cup Heritage
BC Place has hosted the Grey Cup — Canadian football's championship game — multiple times, generating some of the loudest and most passionate atmospheres the CFL can produce.
Two Leagues, One Stage
Catch a BC Lions CFL game one weekend and a Vancouver Whitecaps MLS match the next. Few venues in North America offer live sport of this variety on a single pitch.
Concert & Event History
From Rolling Stones to Beyoncé, BC Place has a rich concert history. The reconfigured floor transforms the stadium into a 21,000-seat arena for major live events.
Visitor Guide & Tips
Read through these crucial game-day checklists to ensure a seamless entry and visitor experience at BC Place.
"There is no experience in North American sport quite like watching a CFL game at BC Place with the roof open on a September evening. The mountains turn pink in the last light, the grass smell drifts in off the False Creek waterfront, and the Lions are going deep on third down. You realise this stadium sits at a crossroads of city, mountain, and ocean that could only ever be Vancouver."
— Regular BC Lions Season Ticket Holder | Vancouver, BC
Get Tickets to BC Place Events
Whether it's a home game, a tournament fixture, or a major concert, Hundred Ideas Co. helps you find the right seats at the best price. Hannys Aniston will respond to your request personally with confirmed pricing options.
Request Ticket AssistanceExplore More Stadiums
Read our detailed guides for other premium venues across the USA and Canada.
MetLife Stadium
Home of the Giants and Jets. Capacity 82,500. The largest stadium in the NFL.
View Guide →
AT&T Stadium
Home of the Dallas Cowboys. Features a retractable roof and capacity beyond 100,000.
View Guide →
SoFi Stadium
A $5.2 billion architectural statement in Los Angeles, hosting Rams and Chargers.
View Guide →