BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia is Canada’s largest stadium — a 54,000-capacity domed venue that hosts the BC Lions (CFL), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS), and major events ranging from concerts to the 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony. Owned by the Province of British Columbia through BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo), it is Vancouver’s flagship venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
| Stadium Name | BC Place |
| Location | 777 Pacific Blvd, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Owner | Province of British Columbia (via BC Pavilion Corporation / PavCo) |
| Operator | BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo) — Crown Corporation |
| Primary Tenants | BC Lions (CFL) + Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS) |
| Capacity | ~54,500 (football) | 22,120 (basketball/hockey config) |
| Year Opened | 1983 (original) | 2011 (retractable roof renovation) |
| Roof Type | Retractable (replaced original air-supported dome in 2011) |
| Time Zone | Pacific (UTC−7 in June) |
| 2026 WC Match | Match 40 — Group G: New Zealand vs Egypt — June 21, 18:00 UTC−7 |
Who Owns BC Place?
BC Place is owned by the Province of British Columbia through BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo) — a provincial Crown Corporation (government-owned business entity). PavCo owns and operates both BC Place and the Vancouver Convention Centre. As a Crown Corporation, PavCo operates on commercial principles but reports to the BC Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. There is no private corporate owner — BC Place is a public asset of the people of British Columbia, managed by a government-appointed board of directors. This public ownership model is consistent with how major event infrastructure is managed across Canadian cities.
BC Place’s History
BC Place opened in 1983 as an air-supported dome — using air pressure to keep its fabric roof inflated, a technology common in the 1980s for large-span stadiums. It hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of Expo 86 (the Vancouver World’s Fair), the 1994 FIFA World Cup group stage matches (when Canada co-hosted with the USA and Mexico — eerily similar to 2026), and the 2010 Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies. A $563 million renovation in 2011 replaced the original air-supported dome with a modern retractable PTFE fabric roof, dramatically improving the experience for both outdoor and indoor events.
BC Place at FIFA World Cup 2026
Vancouver is one of Canada’s two 2026 FIFA World Cup host cities (alongside Toronto). BC Place hosts Match 40 — Group G: New Zealand vs Egypt on June 21, 2026 at 18:00 UTC−7 (Pacific time). New Zealand — known as the All Whites — makes one of its rare World Cup appearances against Egypt, who return to the global stage with renewed ambition. Vancouver’s multicultural community and passionate football fanbase — boosted by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC MLS team — ensures BC Place will be buzzing for its second World Cup hosting experience since 1994.