BC Place stadium ready for World Cup showcase
Downtown venue undergoes major upgrades ahead of Saturday's first match, featuring new merchandise store and renovated player facilities.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
BC Place has been transformed for the FIFA World Cup, completing a major renovation ahead of Vancouver's first men's World Cup match Saturday between Australia and Türkiye.
The 43-year-old Downtown stadium now features a permanent merchandise store at Gate H, renovated player locker rooms, showers and bathrooms, three new elevators, and additional hospitality and hosting spaces. A new hybrid sod and grass pitch, grown in Abbotsford with Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass, is equipped with automatic irrigation.
Nine FIFA stores will operate on site, including seven inside the stadium. The venue will accommodate 475 media positions for written press and photographers, with 45 broadcast cameras for group-stage matches and 50 for later rounds.
More than 2,000 stadium staff will work match days across 100+ concession locations, alongside 700+ FIFA staff and volunteers. The retractable roof will remain closed for all matches regardless of weather to accommodate television broadcasts.
Organizers are urging fans to arrive early. Those traveling by SkyTrain should exit at Main Street-Science World rather than Stadium station, as the only entry is via Pacific Boulevard. The "vibrant spectator route" will feature activations and activities along the way.
The stadium is ready to show the world what Vancouver can do.