Step Inside: BC Place – Home of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Stadium History | Parking & Admission | Seating & Capacity | Food & Concessions

BC Place is the third largest stadium in Canada, and the largest in the country’s westernmost province of British Columbia. The 54,500-seat venue is located in downtown Vancouver on the north side of False Creek, in the same stadium district that also houses the indoor Rogers Arena. BC Place hosts Major League Soccer’s Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Canadian Football League’s BC Lions and the annual Canada Sevens rugby competition.

BC Place opened in 1983 as the world’s largest air-supported domed stadium, a title that it held until 2010 when a massive renovation debuted a new retractable roof. The stadium updates also brought in North America’s second-largest center-hung high definition scoreboard, a synthetic turf field, and upgraded seating. Although construction of BC Place Stadium coincided with the 1986 World’s Fair, the venue has since hosted major events such as the 2010 Winter Olympics, the 2014 NHL Heritage Classic and the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. It has also been booked to hold several matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The street address for BC Place is 777 Pacific Boulevard.

What events are coming up at BC Place?

See upcoming events and buy tickets for BC Place right here on Ticketmaster.

BC Place History

Constructed between 1981 and 1983, BC Place Stadium opened in Vancouver with the world’s largest air-supported roof. After holding its inaugural match between the NASL’s Vancouver Whitecaps and Seattle Sounders on June 20, 1983, and a visit by Pope John Paul II in 1984, the venue served its initial purpose of hosting Expo 86, the 1986 World’s Fair, with Prince Charles and Princess Diana presiding over the opening ceremonies.

Along with continuing to be the home pitch for the Whitecaps, BC Place has hosted the annual World Rugby Sevens Series’ Canada Sevens, the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2012, exhibition games for the NFL and numerous high-profile music performers. In 2023, BC Place set its record attendance when Ed Sheeran’s The Mathematics Tour attracted an estimated 65,061 fans. The stadium was also designed to accommodate a baseball field configuration, and has played host to spring training games for the MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs and more.

In 2008, construction began for the stadium’s first major renovation to prepare for Vancouver’s role as the host city of the 2010 Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics. The $150 million upgrade was completed in 2009 before the stadium held the opening and closing ceremonies, and it closed for renovations once again later that year. The distinctive inflatable dome roof was replaced with a retractable, cable-supported roof system, and new turf was installed in 2015 ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Parking and Admission at BC Place

BC Place Stadium offers a variety of public parking options in the near vicinity of the stadium. To find a map of parking locations in the downtown Vancouver area, visit BC Place’s website. Accessible parking is limited but a designated dropoff zone for guests using mobility devices is open on Pacific Boulevard at Parking Lot 457 under Gate F. Pricing for public parking varies; the closest lots range from CA $10 to CA $30, while farther spaces typically cost CA $3 to CA $6.

Public transit options are available for stadium guests as well. For those arriving by bus, the Downtown Vancouver #15 and #17 lines provide service within minutes of the entrance at BC Place. The Vancouver Skytrain also stops at the Stadium-Chinatown station, about a five-minute walk from the venue. The False Creek Ferries operate year-round and the Village/Science World-Granville Island route docks at the Plaza of Nations terminal, roughly a 12-minute walk from BC Place. Visit BC Place’s website for all route planning options.

Guests planning to attend an event at BC Place should be aware of the stadium’s bag policy, which allows a clutch purse or belt bag no larger than 6.5″ x 8.5″ or a clear plastic bag, including clear plastic freezer bags, no larger than 12″ x 12″ x 6″. Security will make exceptions for diaper bags and medical items that will not fit in a clear plastic bag. All bags are subject to search upon entry.

Furthermore, BC Place has a list of restricted items that may be found here. Guests are also encouraged to not bring large laptops or tablets into the stadium. Check here for BC Place’s bag policy, and find the stadium’s complete list of guest policies, including the laptop policy, here.

BC Place Capacity and Seating Options

BC Place Stadium has several seating capacity limits based on its stadium configurations. Game-day seating can reach a maximum capacity of 54,500 guests, while floor seating for musical performances and special events raises the capacity to over 65,000. Throughout two renovations between 2008 and 2010, the stadium added over 50 suites and hospitality lounges. The Edgewater Lounge includes 400 seats, the Balcony and Goal Post lounges can accommodate 40 to 100 guests and the Pacific Rim suites can suit groups of 10 to 24 people. 1,300 Club Seats are available between two exclusive lounges.

What are the best seats at BC Place?

The best seats at Crypto.com Arena vary depending on the event and personal preferences.  Check out BC Place seat maps and find your favorite seat today.

Food and Beverages at BC Place

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Howard Yu (@food_with_howie)

BC Place Stadium has a plethora of dining options among its over 40 concessions. Venue favorites include Bombay South Asian Kitchen, Boom Kitchen, Commercial Drive Pizza, Lionsgate Grill, Seoul Food and The Poutinerie. The stadium’s gourmet hot dog station Dawson’s Deluxe opened in summer 2023. The menus of BC Place’s variety of dining options are available to view here.

Meanwhile, alcoholic beverages can be purchased at a number of Beer Express stations across the venue. Additionally, The Thirsty Pigeon offers a rotating selection of favorites from local breweries between its two locations in sections 234 and 248.

BC Place is a cashless venue, though a cash-to-card system is available for guests without a digital form of payment. Guests with food allergies and dietary restrictions should call BC Place Guest Services prior to attendance. Guest Services can be reached at 604-661-3434.