The Place to be in BC

Official Review by Katie Lawrence, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

Having been a part of the Vancouver skyline since 1983, BC Place Stadium is a staple in the heart of downtown. Formerly the world's largest air-supported dome, BC Place has undergone some drastic changes. It now boasts a retractable roof, held up by cables and crown-like masts built all the way around the stadium, and the largest scoreboard in Canada of its kind, second in North America only to Cowboys Stadium. The roof opens 100 metres by 85 metres, the size of the field, and retracts in above the scoreboard in the centre.

The newly-renovated stadium is home to the BC Lions of the CFL, who played their first game back at BC Place on September 30, 2011 after a year and a half of playing at the temporary Empire Field.

Food & Beverage    4

You can get all the expected stadium grub at BC Place: hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, pop, beer, pizza, cotton candy, mini donuts, etc.

If you happen to be sitting in the club seats, there is an expanded menu, with choices such as prime rib, crab ravioli, and "" my personal favourite "" garlic fries! There are also full bars located all along the club concourse.

But beware, Lions fans, of the prices. When buying food for even just yourself, you could see $20 disappear fairly quickly. If you're a penny pincher, I advise eating at home before you head down to the game.

During the stadium opener, the concessions were understaffed and under-prepared for the 50,213 fans that attended the game. The following week, all issues had been addressed, to my knowledge, and everything went much smoother the second time around. Everyone who wanted it also received free popcorn during the second game, BC Place's way of making up for the outrageous lines and shortage of food on opening night.

Atmosphere    4

With all the new upgrades, BC Place looks like a brand new stadium. Having the retractable roof makes a huge difference, eliminating the stuffiness that the bubble dome at BC Place was known for, especially in the summer time. New lighting and scoreboards make the dome much brighter than it ever had been before.

The big jumbotron in the middle is a huge advantage over the old one that was on the east wall of the stadium. The end zone seats under that scoreboard were never full, but now people can see replays from wherever they're sitting.

Lions fans are known as some of the best and the loudest in the league. Having so many Vancouverites get into football gives the team and the city such a huge boost. It's an event that everyone from families to a guys night out can attend.

The BC Lions street party has happened along Beatty Street before the games for as long as I can remember. Local businesses/radio stations set up booths, there's live music, games for kids, and a selection of restaurants along the way. It's a great place to kill time before the game.

Neighborhood    3

BC Place, along with Rogers Arena, is located along False Creek, where Science World, Olympic Village and many private condos are, but it also borders on a more run-down part of the city. On one side, you have the central part of downtown, with Robson Street leading right down to the Terry Fox Monument at Gate A. On the other side, there are old boarded up hotels and bars in a sketchy area.

Fans    4

BC Lions fans are loud, proud, and at the moment, coming out in droves. Over 50,000 people came out for the opening game at the renovated stadium September 30, 2011, and over 30,000 attended the following week. Having that many voices screaming at the same time, whether it's against the visiting defence, or when the Lions score a touchdown, it really adds to the fun atmosphere of the game.

The only problem I've found is that Lions fans love to drink. Sometimes, a few people get a little too rowdy. Having been a season ticket holder for years, I've seen security earn their paycheques.

Access    3

Being in the middle of downtown, BC Place is fairly easy to get to. There's a skytrain stop about a five minute walk from the stadium. You can walk back into downtown and catch a bus, or leave your car in one of the many parkades.

Getting to the games isn't the problem; it's leaving that takes up the most time. The Stadium-Chinatown stop gets flooded with people looking to head to Surrey/Burnaby/New West or back to Waterfront Station. Traffic is gridlocked and with all the one way streets downtown, getting home takes a lot of patience.

Return on Investment    3

Tickets for Lions games range from $27 in the end zone, to $106 and up for a seat in the club section, which seems like a little bit on the high-end, in my opinion. Combine an end zone ticket with parking (if you drive down) and food prices, and you're looking at over $75 for one person. Taking transit and eating before the game takes some of the heat off your wallet.

Extras    3

A shoutout to Crazy P, who goes around the stands with his drum and gets the crowd loud and on their feet. That dude has a lot of contagious energy and he pumps up the fans.

A big plus are the plush seats in the club section. Way easier to sit for a whole game on them than the old blue ones that BC Place used to have.

A negative for me are the Felions "dance team" performances every quarter. They're wearing practically nothing and can't do their moves in unison. The drunk guys are thoroughly entertained, but it just makes me roll my eyes.

Final Thoughts

It is definitely worth it to head downtown and take in a BC Lions game when you can. The fans are great, and the stadium is incredible, especially when the team is playing like winners. It's okay to splurge a bit on yourself every once in a while.