BC Place Stadium recognized as one of Vancouver's "Places That Matter"
November 8th, 2019
BC Place Stadium was officially recognized by Vancouver Heritage Foundation at a “Places That Matter” plaque presentation today, celebrating the impact BC Place has made on Vancouver and the province of B.C. since opening on June 19, 1983.
BC Place Stadium was originally envisioned as part of an extensive neighbourhood transformation for North False Creek – the largest urban development in North America at the time. In the ensuing 36 years, BC Place has been home to landmark events and occasions that include the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the FIFA Women’s World Cup Championship Final, visits by royalty and world leaders, spectacular sold out concerts headlined by the world’s top artists, a myriad of cultural and community gatherings, as well as countless sporting moments featuring the BC Lions Football Club, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Canada’s national teams. BC Place is also the proud home of the BC Sports Hall of Fame, which celebrates extraordinary achievement in B.C. sporting history.
“BC Place Stadium has become an iconic part of British Columbia’s landscape,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. “It has been a gathering place for more than 35 million people, each of whom have made memories and shared once in a lifetime experiences. BC Place is a landmark in our province and I look forward to many more exciting and memorable moments in the years to come.”
BC Place Stadium’s unique downtown location continues to attract a diverse range of local and international sporting, cultural and community events to the region. The stadium is busy year-round with annual events including the Vancouver International Boat Show, Vancouver Sun Run, the BC Home + Garden Show, and the award-winning HSBC Canada Sevens – part of the World Rugby Sevens Series – which was recently awarded hosting rights for the event from 2020 to 2023.
“BC Place and the diverse range of events hosted there have made an immense impact on the growth and development of our provincial community since 1983,” said Ian Aikenhead, Chair of BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo). “To be recognized by Vancouver Heritage Foundation and the local community is an honour for everyone who has contributed to building and operating our province’s flagship stadium.”
Vancouver Heritage Foundation’s Places That Matter plaque project tells the stories of the people, places and events that have shaped Vancouver’s history. BC Place is recognized as one of 125 Places That Matter in Vancouver through a public nominations process, followed by an independent evaluation by a committee made up of local historians, artists, students, heritage consultants, writers and educators.
“Vancouver Heritage Foundation is pleased to include BC Place Stadium in the Places That Matter plaque project, as a celebration of sporting, entertainment and community history, added Kathryn Morrow, Communications Manager for Vancouver Heritage Foundation. “The building maintains an iconic place in the city’s skyline identifiable as uniquely Vancouver, and has been the site of many historic events that help to tell the stories of this city.
The plaque presented by Vancouver Heritage Foundation includes the following inscription:
BC Place Stadium
Designed by Phillips Barratt, BC Place Stadium opened its doors on June 19, 1983 on the north shore of the industrial area of False Creek. Part of a neighbourhood transformation to recreational and residential uses, the stadium is the largest indoor community gathering space in Western Canada. It has hosted a range of historic events over the years including Expo 86 and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The stadium is home to the BC Lions Football Club, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the Canada Sevens rugby tournament and the BC Sports Hall of Fame. In an extensive revitalization in 2011, the iconic air-inflated domed roof was replaced with the largest cable-supported fabric roof of its kind in the world, updating its signature presence on Vancouver’s skyline.
About BC Place
As the largest multipurpose facility of its kind in Western Canada, BC Place provides a world class venue for sport, entertainment, commerce, cultural and community activity in British Columbia. More than one million people attend events at BC Place annually, including games of the stadium’s two resident teams, the BC Lions Football Club of the Canadian Football League and Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer.
BC Place hosts the annual Canada Sevens - part of the World Rugby Sevens Series - and is home to the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.
BC Place is a division of B.C. Pavilion Corporation (PavCo), a Crown corporation of the Province of British Columbia. PavCo’s mandate is to generate economic and community benefit for the people of British Columbia. In 2019, events hosted at BC Place contributed more than $148 million in economic activity in B.C.
Media Contact:
Duncan Blomfield
Marketing & Communications Manager, BC Place Stadium
Tel: (604) 661-7360 Email: DBlomfield@bcpavco.com