BC PLACE PROUD TO HOST WORLD RUGBY SEVENS IN 2016
February 23rd, 2015
FEBRUARY 23, 2015
BC PLACE PROUD TO WELCOME WORLD RUGBY SEVENS IN 2016
British Columbia and BC Place to welcome second world-class competition after hosting Final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 ™.
16 countries set to compete at the upcoming World Rugby Sevens event.
February 23, 2015. VANCOUVER, BC. World Rugby and Rugby Canada today announced BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia will be the host venue in the expansion of the World Rugby Sevens Series starting March 2016. The international event is attended by up to 16 participating nations, and is expected to generate significant tourism opportunities and economic activity for the province of BC. British Columbia will host the Rugby Sevens event just 9 months following the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ scheduled to be played at BC Place from June 8 to July 5, 2015.
“The World Rugby Sevens Series is a tremendous opportunity for BC Place and British Columbians to once again to host an international competition in our world-class venue,” said Ken Cretney, interim President and CEO, BC Pavilion Corporation. “BC Place is extremely proud to welcome premier international events such as the World Rugby Sevens Series and FIFA Women’s World Cup, which not only draw significant numbers of visitors to the region, but also results in significant contribution to our local businesses.”
Today’s announcement will result in the installation of a new playing surface at BC Place, in advance of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™.
“We are pleased to continue our commitment to ensuring that all playing surfaces for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ are of the highest quality,” stated Peter Montopoli, CEO for the National Organising Committee of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™. “As part of this commitment, financial support will be provided to contribute to the replacement.”
Cretney adds, “One of the requirements of the Canadian bid for the World Rugby Sevens Series was the installation of a new turf surface for BC Place. This is a huge win for British Columbia as both the Canadian Soccer Association and Rugby Canada will be assisting with the funding for the new surface, an expense we had budgeted for in full for when the turf had tentatively been scheduled to be replaced, likely in the fall of 2016. Offsetting costs on this project will be a significant win for BC.”
The total cost for the turf replacement will be determined by a formal tender process.
The opportunity to host the World Rugby Sevens, an event that attracted bids from more than 20 countries, reinforces the benefit of having a world-class stadium in our province," said Todd Stone, Minister for Transportation and Infrastructure. "With Rugby Sevens making its debut in the 2016 Olympics, the sport is expected to continue its growth in popularity worldwide, and British Columbia's sporting communities and tourism industry will be well-positioned to maximize the benefits created by this opportunity."
World Rugby Sevens in Canada
• Teams from up to 16 countries compete in the international World Rugby Sevens tournament.
• The World Rugby Women's Sevens Series will be hosted in Langford, BC in 2015.
• In 2016, Rugby Sevens will be added to the Olympic Games.
• Canada’s Men’s Sevens team won gold at the 2011 Pan Am Games.
Resources:
FIFA Quality Programme - http://quality.fifa.com/
World Rugby (formerly IRB) Artificial Rugby Turf Performance Specification - Technical Document
About B.C. Pavilion Corporation
B.C. Pavilion Corporation (PavCo) is a Provincial Crown Corporation of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. PavCo performs on its mandate of generating economic and community benefit for the people of BC through the prudent management of two world-class public facilities located in downtown Vancouver: the Vancouver Convention Centre and BC Place.
About BC Place
BC Place Stadium is the largest multipurpose venue of its kind in the province of British Columbia. An architectural signature for the province, BC Place hosts sports, exhibition and entertainment on a year-round calendar of live events. BC Place is proud to be home to the BC Lions Football Club, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the BC Sports Hall of Fame. For more information, follow BC Place on Twitter @BCPlace or visit www.bcplace.com
About FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™
The FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™, from June 6-July 5, 2015 will be hosted in Canada from coast to coast with matches to be played in Vancouver, British Columbia; Edmonton, Alberta; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Ottawa, Ontario; Montréal, Québec; and Moncton, New Brunswick. Recognised as the most important international competition in women’s football, the upcoming competition will unite football fans worldwide while giving Canada an opportunity to embrace the best of women’s sport.
Media Contacts
Duncan Blomfield
Marketing and Communications Manager, BC Place
604 661 7360
dblomfield@bcpavco.com