What鈥檚 your favourite memory of BC Place?
40th-anniversary celebrations for the Vancouver stadium involve a contest with a chance to win 鈥渁 once-in-a-lifetime opportunity鈥� to win two free tickets to every public event there in 2024 鈥� a grand prize worth close to $6,000.
Western Canada鈥檚 largest multi-purpose event venue was opened 40 years ago Monday, on June 19, 1983.
Over the years the stadium has welcomed royalty (Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, Prince Charles), rock royalty (the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, KISS and others), Pope John Paul II, Expo 86 and 2010 Winter Olympics celebrations, pro sports and hundreds of other events.
BC Pavilion Corporation鈥檚 54,500-seat stadium has hosted more than 36 million guests at live events including games, concerts, trade and consumer shows and more.
A BC Place 鈥渇avourite memory鈥� contest welcomes entries that are 鈥渙riginal, respectful, and abide by all laws and regulations,鈥� according to . The contest runs from June 19 to Sept. 30 and is open to residents of British Columbia aged 19 and older.
What鈥檚 your favourite memory of ?
鈥� Tom Zillich (@TomZillich)
I'll start.
U2 in 1987 on the Joshua Tree tour. I was a wide-eyed teen who couldn't believe I was in the same room as my fave band (bad seats, but whatever).
40th-anniversary contest = free tickets.
DETAILS:
After the Winter Olympics, the original air-supported 鈥渄ome鈥� was deflated in May 2010 for construction of the world鈥檚 largest cable-supported retractable roof, still in operation.
BC Lions play CFL games there, as do the Whitecaps pro soccer team.
In 2023 BC Place will host seven concerts by musicians including Ed Sheeran (Sept. 2), Beyonc茅 (Sept. 11), Coldplay (Sept. 22-23) and Guns 鈥楴鈥� Roses (Oct. 16). Next year the Grey Cup championship will return, and in 2026 BC Place will be a host stadium for the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament.
The history of the stadium includes 95 concerts, more than 400 pro and university/school football games (including nine Grey Cups) and more than 200 pro and international soccer matches.
On March 9, 1983, Queen Elizabeth II invited the world to Expo 86 during an invitation-only public event, followed by an 鈥淓xpect the World鈥� opening ceremony on June 19 with close to 40,000 in attendance.
The first sporting event was June 20, 1983, when the old NASL Whitecaps hosted Seattle Sounders with more than 60,000 fans in seats.
鈥� RELATED/CONCERT REVIEW: .
BC Place鈥檚 first concert was David Bowie on his Serious Moonlight tour on Aug. 9, 1983 (Bowie鈥檚 dressing room turned into a sushi bar). Other artists who鈥檝e played there include AC/DC (three times), U2 (five times), Bon Jovi (twice), Metallica (twice), Van Halen (twice) and Elton John (once, in 2022).
Also that month, a Major League Baseball Old-Timers Exhibition Game involved legends Hank Aaron and Roger Maris, and a performance by Bob Hope.
Other BC Place highlights include the final stop for Rick Hansen鈥檚 Man in Motion Tour (May 22, 1987), the 1990 NHL Entry Draft and the 1994 Grey Cup game when Lui Passaglia kicked a game-winning field goal for a BC Lions win.
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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