BC Lions secure long-term future after Surrey abandons Tom Binnie arena site
The CFL team can stay at their City Parkway facility indefinitely after the city pivoted to a former Safeway location for a new 10,000-seat arena.
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The BC Lions can stay longer-term at their clubhouse on City Parkway in Surrey after the city abandoned plans to build a new arena on the football training facility's adjacent Tom Binnie Park.
Surrey announced June 30 that it will pursue a new 10,000-seat arena and cultural event centre at the corner of 104 Avenue and King George Boulevard, on the site of a former Safeway store. Months earlier, the city had indicated that Tom Binnie—where the Lions have occupied their facility since the 1980s—was a potential location, prompting concern from the team.
Lions president Duane Vienneau said the city's decision to pivot sites is a relief, especially after the team recently invested heavily in renovating their clubhouse with a new locker room, kitchen, lounge, hot tubs, cold baths, and therapy and massage areas. "We like being in Surrey, and our owner wouldn't have invested that much money if he didn't," Vienneau said.
The Lions now expect the city to replace the artificial turf at Tom Binnie, which they haven't been able to use in rainy fall months when their grass field becomes too wet. The existing turf at Tom Binnie doesn't meet CFL safety standards and is too hard for safe practice. In rainy seasons, the team has had to move practices to Hjorth Road in Guildford.
