Apple Bowl - BC Lions

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14

Apple Bowl 1555 Burtch Rd Kelowna, BC V1Y 4A9 Canada

BC Lions website Starlight Stadium website

Year Opened: 1995 Capacity: 19,500

---

BC Lions at the Apple Bowl

Normally home to the Okanagan Sun of the Canadian Junior Football League and Okanagan FC of the Pacific Coast Soccer League, the Apple Bowl in Kelowna, British Columbia has fixed seating for about 2,300 fans. However, in 2026 the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League will play two games here, bringing in 17,000 additional seats in the form of temporary bleachers, transforming the space into a party-like atmosphere.

The east side of the stadium is filled with all manner of fan activations, including plenty of sponsor giveaways, as well as games such as cornhole, football tosses, and even a little putt-putt. There are also plenty of concession stands, as well as myriad tents selling alcohol, and even a team gear tent for you to stock up on your Lions paraphernalia. A party stage featuring a live band completes the ensemble, and there are also picnic tables on that side if you want to sit and eat while you listen.

Food & Beverage   4

There are plenty of food and beverage options at the Apple Bowl during Touchdown Kelowna, although the lines can get a little long, and you may have to walk a bit to get to the concessions from your seats, depending on where you are sitting.

The main tents feature a limited selection from Triple O’s, a local burger joint, specifically just four items: burgers ($10), hot dogs ($6), chips ($2), and water, but there are plenty of food trucks right next door, serving up tacos, donuts, poutine, Indian food, kettle corn, ice cream, and lemonade to name a few. All these concessions are located in the southeast corner, so they are a bit of a walk for those sitting on the north side. The west side is limited to club seating where food is (mostly) included with your ticket.

For alcohol, there are several giant tents set up right behind the east stands, selling 10 varieties of beer, as well as gin cocktails, hard seltzer, and vodka for $11 each.

Atmosphere   4

The atmosphere at Touchdown Kelowna is top-notch; the east side feels like a party all game long, with fans enjoying the games and giveaways, and listening to the live band. The party zone in the northwest corner (standing room only section) is also buzzing, and you will see plenty of fans in Lions gear, although there are also lots of fans supporting the other side, as well.

In terms of the field layout, there are videoboards in both the northwest and southeast corners, which are a little hard to see from far away. The PA announcer is also a little difficult to hear; it may help to have larger screens to at least show the score and down and distance. Most of the seating is uncovered; if you want to stay out of the sun, your only choice is the fixed seating on the west side, which naturally sells out first, and those tickets are much more expensive. The cheerleaders perform throughout the game from in front of the party zone, on the same side as the BC Lions bench.

Neighborhood   4

The Apple Bowl is located in Parkinson Recreation Park on the east side of Okanagan Lake, a long, winding lake that seems more like a river. There are plenty of places to eat in this bustling town of over 200K, as well as plenty of outdoor attractions such as parks, wineries, and even a kangaroo farm – for my money, this is the best attraction in town, charging just $20 admission and open daily from 9 am to 3 pm. Besides kangaroos, Kangaroo Creek Farm boasts many other animals, from pot-bellied pigs and tortoises to turkeys, peacocks, and hares. But the most recognizable resident at the farm has got to be the albino wallaby, a down-under cousin of the kangaroo that looks very much like one.

There are plenty of hotels in Kelowna as well, on both sides of the river.  Note that in 2026 the Lions are playing back-to-back games at the Apple Bowl as part of the Touchdown Kelowna festival, so you may have a choice as to which game to attend.

Fans   5

While the Apple Bowl cannot hold as many fans as the Lions are used to seeing at BC Place, at least since the recent ownership change, both games at the Apple Bowl are likely to be sellouts, and as mentioned earlier, you will see plenty of fans sporting Lions gear. The larger team gear tent is on the east side, but there is also a smaller one on the west side, behind the club seats and next to the fixed stands, so you have options to get your Lions swag no matter which side you are sitting on.

The fans are into the action all game long – the staff did a great job scheduling two of the Lions’ biggest (and closest geographically) rivals, the Stampeders and the Elks, for the two games in 2026, which really helped increase the size of the crowd.

Access   3

Kelowna is about four hours from Vancouver and three hours from Chilliwack. Once you get close to Kelowna, the drive along Okanagan Lake is enjoyable with the stunning water views, but before that you are faced with a long slog across a mostly barren expanse, with few gas stations and only a handful of tiny, strategically placed rest stops along the way. Be sure to fill up when the signs warn you to, so you don’t run out of gas and get stranded along the way.

Once you get to the stadium, there is not much in the way of parking nearby; most fans walk a fair distance to get to the gates. Gate A is where most fans enter, on the east side, while Gate B is near the fixed stands on the west side. If you try to walk around the whole facility, you won’t be able to cross the northwest corner, but the rest of it is open – you may want to keep that in mind when trying to move around the venue.

Return on Investment   5

Tickets to Touchdown Kelowna are pretty cheap, and can be had for about 40 CAD from the venue website if you are willing to stand in the party zone all game long; other tickets, especially in the fixed stands, can cross well over 150 CAD, but may be worthwhile, as the fixed stands have the only covered seating in the whole place.

If you are able, I definitely recommend taking in a BC Lions game at the Apple Bowl. There is no guarantee the Lions will come to the Apple Bowl every year, and if they do, you may only have the chance to see one or two games here in a season. I would definitely take advantage of the chance to see the Lions in a whole new way if you can.

Extras   4

The staff brings in several junior flag football teams to play during halftime, and the BC Lions mascot will be on hand as well, to greet fans and pose for photos. The facility also has water stations set up where fans can refill their water containers to help keep fans hydrated during the contest.

Final Thoughts

It may be a long trek for the typical BC Lions fans over in Vancouver, but a trip to Touchdown Kelowna at the Apple Bowl is well worth the trip.  Here’s hoping the Lions decide to keep coming back to this wonderful pop-up venue, year after year.