Temporary stadium confirmed for PNE site
December 22nd, 0009
December 22, 2009
The Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) and BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo) today confirmed the BC Lions will play all of their home games during the 2010 season in a temporary stadium to be built at the PNE site.
In addition, Vancouver MLS 2011 will open their inaugural season as a Major League Soccer franchise with their first few home games at the site.
BC Place will be closed from the spring of 2010 until the summer of 2011, in order to permit the construction of its new retractable roof. Temporary grandstands accommodating approximately 27,500 fans are to be erected by mid-June, 2010.
PavCo, the Crown Corporation which owns and operates both BC Place and the Vancouver Convention Centre, today announced Nussli has been awarded the contract to build the temporary stadium at a cost of $14 million including site preparation, with the cost to be covered by BC Place's operational budget.
The approximate capacity of 27,500 seats will consist of approximately 7400 bench seats, with the remaining 20,100 being individual seats. Sideline seating areas will be covered. In addition,a limited number of private boxes will be created, as well as media facilities, concessions, stadium level lighting, scoreboards, video board and washrooms.
The PNE site selected for the temporary stadium is the old Empire Stadium site, well-known as the former home of the BC Lions, before they moved to BC Place in 1983. It was also the original home of the Vancouver Whitecaps.
"We started working on a temporary stadium plan and public bid process once it became clear the closure of BC Place would be necessary for safety reasons during the roof construction." explained David Podmore, Chair of PavCo, "BC Place has always had a good working relationship with the BC Lions and Vancouver Whitecaps and looks forward to continuing that relationship in the years ahead. We're also excited to provide a special venue for the PNE's 100th anniversary next year."
"We are excited to be playing outdoors for the first time in 27 years and the stadium at Empire Fields will provide the perfect setting for Lions football in 2010," said Lions' Vice President, Business, George Chayka. "In addition to celebrating our own long and rich history of Canadian football by returning to this historic site, we are also very proud to be part of the PNE's 100th anniversary celebration next year. I know our fans will have plenty to cheer about over the next two years as we return to the birthplace of Lions football and then move back into Canada's premier sports facility, BC Place, in 2011."
"The site is where the Whitecaps kicked off their inaugural season in 1974, so it's a unique coincidence that we're beginning our new era in Major League Soccer here too," said Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi. "With the final part of the construction at BC Place likely to overlap with the beginning of our 2011 MLS season, we're making plans to play our first few home games at the temporary stadium."
For the PNE, the temporary stadium at Empire Fields provides a new venue during its 100th anniversary.
"Today's announcement will allow the Pacific National Exhibition to utilize the temporary Empire Fields facility during arguably the most significant year in our organization's history, our centennial in 2010," says PNE President and CEO Michael McDaniel. "The return of professional football and soccer to this storied site is incredibly exciting."