Large-scale events are common in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The western Canadian city hosted the Winter Olympics in 2010 and hosted matches at the 2015 Women’s World Cup, including the final. BC Place It played a key role in both events, serving as the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Vancouver Games.
For men world cup This summer, the city’s downtown stadium will host seven games, including five in the group stage and two in the finals. Team Canada will play two of their first round games at BC Place.
Approximately 3 million people live in Vancouver and the surrounding area, so there’s plenty to do outside of soccer.
Landmarks/Attractions
Stanley Park is a 1,000-acre urban park on the city’s western edge with walking and biking trails, a scenic seawall, cafes, a public pool, the Vancouver Aquarium, and more.
The Granville Public Market on Granville Island features vendors from all over the area selling fresh produce, seafood, chocolate, baked goods and other foods.
The round exterior of the Science World Museum will be transformed to resemble the official World Cup ball, and the interior will feature special exhibits on the science of soccer.
meal scene
No trip to Canada is complete without sampling poutine, a dish consisting of fries, cheese curds, and gravy. And perhaps one of the most famous poutine places in the city is La Belle Patate.
Home to the landmark Steam Clock, the historic Gastown neighborhood is home to some of Vancouver’s trendiest bars and eateries, from fine French cuisine to Ukrainian cuisine to organic ice cream.
fan zone
Vancouver’s big fan festival is coming to Hastings Park. A new 10,000-seat amphitheater will screen the game on a big screen and host a series of concerts by big-name artists including Mötley Crüe, Ziggy Marley, Canadian producer Deadmau5 and Kx5 featuring American Kaskade.
There will be food, drinks, and of course merchandise. Fan Fest is free to the public, but premium tickets are available for reserved seats in the amphitheater.
Transportation options
BC Place is located downtown, so there is plenty of public transportation available for fans heading to the game. One of the main modes of transportation will be the Skytrain, which will run more frequently during the World Cup.
A special West Coast Express commuter train will run on weekend game days. Coming from another part of Canada or taking a train or bus from the United States? The stadium is within walking distance from Pacific Central Station.
stadium tips
BC Place has a retractable fabric roof. There has been no word on whether it will be open or closed during World Cup matches, but there is speculation that it will remain closed to protect the natural turf installed for the tournament. This means the stadium can get quite hot if there is a heatwave, but fans will be protected if it rains.
Parts of the stadium have been renovated in preparation for the World Cup, including luxury suites and hospitality areas. The best thing about BC Place is that it’s in the heart of everything and is one of the most fan-friendly of all World Cup stadiums.
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
