BC Place - Olympic Stadium Renovations & Retractable Roof
 

PREMIER UNVEILS NEW VISION FOR BC PLACE & ART GALLERY

VANCOUVER – A major renovation of BC Place Stadium – including a retractable roof after 2010 –
will expand the city’s sport, culture and entertainment district; feature a new home for the Vancouver
Whitecaps; and provide a waterfront site for a new Vancouver Art Gallery, Premier Gordon Campbell
announced today.

“We asked PavCo chair David Podmore to develop a long-term plan for one of British
Columbia’s landmark facilities. What he found was BC Place is in good shape but, like any facility
that age, is in need of upgrades,” said Premier Campbell. “The upgrades pre- and post-Olympics will
significantly reduce energy consumption and extend the life of this world-class facility for another 30
years. It will also give us the opportunity to create a vibrant arts and sporting community for residents
and visitors alike.”

Upgrades to BC Place will occur in two phases. Renovations to suites, seating, washrooms and
concession stands, and enhancement of the existing roof liner will occur before the 2010 Olympic and
Paralympic Winter Games. A new retractable roof will be put in place after the 2010 Games. Both
phases are expected to go out to tender within five months, subject to design, completion of a business
case and cost-benefit analysis and government approval.

“Once we’ve completed our design and planning, we’ll finalize the budget and, subject to
provincial government approval, get a fixed price contract with a guaranteed timeline,” said Podmore.
“As much of the preparatory work on the roof as possible will be done prior to the 2010 Games. The
remaining work to install the new roof will be completed over an estimated eight months after the
Games are over. This is exactly how BC Place was planned and built more than 25 years ago. By
waiting until after 2010 to complete the retractable roof, we’ll get better competitive pricing.”

A retractable roof by itself will cut energy costs for BC Place by one-third, $535,000 annually.
A further $100,000 annually will be saved through operational savings. For example, the stadium will
no longer need air-lock doors to support the roof. Further options, such as solar panels and geothermal
heating, will also be explored.

As part of the new roof and upgrade, which is expected to be complete early in 2011, the
Whitecaps will start playing at BC Place in the summer of 2011, part of a five-year lease with renewals
after 2016. That will give the team the opportunity to apply for a Major League Soccer (MLS)
franchise.

“We are looking forward to playing under the retractable roof at BC Place starting in 2011,”
said Bob Lenarduzzi, president of Vancouver Whitecaps FC. “We are confident that the planned
renovations will make BC Place a more versatile venue, very suitable for soccer and a variety of other
international calibre events. The move to BC Place will allow us to pursue the opportunity for an MSL
franchise and will open up a host of additional opportunities that we are excited to bring to
Vancouver.”

“BC Place has been our home field for 25 years, so we’re thrilled with the plans to upgrade it
and add a retractable roof,” said Bob Ackles, BC Lions president and CEO. “To be able to play
outdoors under a retractable roof is going to make the whole experience even more enjoyable for our
fans. As much as we enjoy playing under the dome, the chance to enjoy a game on a summer night will
be very popular with our fans and players alike.”

As part of the bigger vision for this part of downtown Vancouver, PavCo has been working
with the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver Art Gallery and Canadian Metropolitan Properties, the
owners of the Plaza of Nations, to move the Vancouver Art Gallery to False Creek. Currently, less than
three per cent of its collection is on display, because of space restraints.

In return for future development considerations from the City of Vancouver on its False Creek
property, Canadian Metropolitan Properties is providing the Vancouver Art Gallery with a waterfront
site for its new 320,000 square-foot facility. The Province has already contributed $50 million towards
the new gallery.

“The gallery has experienced unprecedented growth in the last decade, and with more than
40,000 members, record-breaking admissions and a growing collection of 10,000 artworks, is now
bursting at the seams,” said gallery director Kathleen Bartels. “The False Creek location presents an
exciting opportunity to imagine a new Vancouver Art Gallery on this beautiful waterfront site, one that
would serve as an anchor for this extension of Vancouver’s thriving cultural community. In addition to
Premier Campbell’s recent commitment of $50 million, we are extremely grateful to the Province of
British Columbia for bringing us another step closer to realizing our dream for a new Vancouver Art
Gallery.”

Development and the sale, or lease, of lands around BC Place are expected to generate more
than $100 million towards the cost of the new roof and upgrades. Additional revenues will come from
new sponsorships and expanded business opportunities.



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BEFORE
http://blogmedia.thenewstribune.com/media/BC_Place.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/2/1496642_84bd79ef7e.jpg

It would be great to see a retractable roof on BC Place. Is is possible to have this in place before the 2010 Olympics or is it proposed for sometime beyond that?

Is that snow on the ground in Vancouver I see in one of those pics?

Definitely looks like it on the exterior before photo! Vancouver does receive snow in the winter, although it rarely stays for any length of time.

There will be massive interior renovations from now until 2010. The existing inflated roof will receive some renovations, new concourses, new seats, new video boards, new washrooms, new sound and lighting, a cleaned roof, etc....the whole interior will be gutted out. Immediately after 2010, within a month after the Paralympics, construction will commence on the new retractable roof....to be completed in 2011.

The whole plan also includes a new art gallery....if you look in the first rendering, you will see it next to the water.

Looks a bit like the London Millenium Dome:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nnium_dome.jpg

a couple thoughts:

- If this is turning into a permanent home for the Whitecaps then what will happen to Swanguard? Also, I would assume that the proposed Waterfront stadium will be axed?

- I was always under the impression that BC Place's field was smaller than a regular soccer field.

- Will they convert the field to grass?

How is that new roof retractable? It looks like a roof with a hole in the middle.... what am I missing?

That's news is great for the stadium and football team, but not so great for the soccer fans. This might hurt the chances of Vancouver landing a MLS team. The MLS wants soccer specific stadiums with seating capacity of 20-25,000 people. This is a football stadium, with football lines and the capacity is way too big. Contrast this with Toronto's BMO field and Montreal's new stadium. I am going to see TFC tomorrow and there is nothing like watching a good footy game inside a packed, intimate stadium. Go Reds!

haha, that's what i thought too.


1) Swanguard has always been a community facility, for local track meets, community events, and the occasional concert. It will stay, it only has a seating capacity of about 6,000.

2) This is being advertised as the interim home of the Whitecaps. They want to be part of the MLS, and there are only 4 franchise spots left. With BC Place, which is now an acceptable MLS stadium, they can secure a franchise spot. Waterfront Stadium discussions will still continue, but of course this stadium renovation development at BC Place will no doubt hinder the process to a certain extent.

3) not sure about the natural grass.

If the MLS has no problem with Seattle's team using Quest Field, which is also the home of the NFL, they shouldn't have a problem with the Whitecaps using BC Place either.....especially since the plan is to use BC Place temporarily until a new stadium on the waterfront is built.

The Whitecaps have basically secured the MLS....the MLS has already put Vancouver on top of their list, all that was missing was a MLS acceptable stadium - which is now what BC Place is.

MLS will not likely grant vancouver a franchise in a stadium that is 3 times too large, with plastic grass with football lines on it.....that is completely against their business plan as a league....if this is the idae, they might as well forget MLS....especially if the promise is a proper stadium no earlier than 2016.

there is no way they will put grass in there....BC place is used for all kinds of things besides field sports.

build a soccer specific stadium that is an appropriate size, with an appropriate playing surface....football and soccer do not mix...this is a proposal of a someone who knows nothing about soccer or the MLS....or even the CFL for that matter...they should bulldoze it and re-build empire stadium.

It's nearly the same design as Commerzbank Stadium in Germany. The retractable roof folds into the videoboard at the centre:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/33/47...d38a8f.jpg?v=0
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Yet the MLS granted the new Seattle team usage of Quest Field, home of the NFL Seahawks? Not to mention that facility is also 3 times as large with football lines in it too.

Like I said, BC Place will be the Whitecaps new temporary home for MLS until they can get their new smaller stadium built on the waterfront.

BC place is not an acceptable stadium for MLS....the league requires soccer specific stadia with no football lines and natural grass....they want them in the 20 000 seat range....TFC was lucky to be admitted with plastic, but they would not have gotten a franchise if the plan was skydome.

the new franchises of MLS come with new stadia of this type, or a concrete promise to construct one...if vancouver thinks that this move will secure them an MLS franchise, they are dead wrong...it will do the exact opposite.

where do you see that this is a temporary move?


http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/n...e834b57a49&p=2


"Lenarduzzi said moving into 60,000-seat BC Place Stadium is not an option for the Whitecaps, even on a temporary basis as negotiations continue on the waterfront stadium.

"BC Place Stadium is not an option, both financially and as a proper facility," he said. "First impressions with the public are very important. We want a stadium that our fans can identify with, and be comfortable with, from the very first game."

Did you read my entire post? BC Place is now acceptable to an extent that the MLS will allow the Whitecaps to make it their temporary home until they can get their new 15,000-30,000 seat stadium on the waterfront built.

The MLS granted the Seattle soccer team usage of Quest Field, which as you know is much bigger than what the team needs and is also home of the city's NFL team.

There is no problem here, especially since this will be a temporary home.



edit: THAT ARTICLE WAS FROM LAST YEAR! Major changes have been made since! Here is an article from today:




It's official: retractable roof, Whitecaps and Vancouver Art Gallery coming to BC Place
Friday, May 16 - 10:33:00 AM News1130 Staff
http://www.news1130.com/news/topstor...516_133300_820

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Premier Gordon Campbell handed out to sports fans and culture buffs today, confirming speculation his government will put a new retractable roof on B.C. Place stadium, but will also build a new art gallery.

The new roof won't be on the stadium in time for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Upgrades to the stadium will occur in two phases, with renovations to the suites, seating, washrooms and concession stands and improvements to the existing roof happening before the Games.

"There will be significant savings in energy costs with the retractable roof. Over half a million dollars a year in energy costs will be saved as a result of the retractable roof."

The premier gave no price estimate for renovating B.C. Place, but earlier reports pegged the new roof at $200 million, compared to $20 million to give the stadium a new inflatable roof.

The stadium's air-supported covering collapsed in January, 2007 and has since been repaired.

Campbell also announced the new art gallery will be built near the stadium on False Creek and the Liberal government has already committed $50 million towards its cost.

The Whitecaps will also call BC Place home come the summer of 2011. Photos below are courtesy www.bcplacestadium.com




As well, at today's live stadium announcement Whitecaps officials were there to announce their MLS intentions with their move to their new temporary home at BC Place.

Commissioner's Vancouver statement
Garber comments on stadium renovation announcement

Major League Soccer Communications
05/16/2008 01:05AM

Following today's announcement in Vancouver that BC Place will undergo renovations, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber issued the following statement:

"We believe Vancouver is a potential market for a future Major League Soccer expansion team. There is no doubt the market for professional soccer exists in Vancouver, as we saw last November when nearly 50,000 fans attended the exhibition match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Whitecaps.

"We understand the newly renovated BC Place Stadium will be a world-class facility. We look forward to learning more about the proposed renovations so that we may determine whether BC Place can serve as an interim venue for an MLS team pending the construction of a soccer-specific stadium.

"MLS will have 16 teams by 2010 with the addition of Seattle next year and Philadelphia the following season. We are currently in discussions with potential expansion team owners and local governments in many markets across North America regarding the 17th and 18th teams.

We look forward to continuing our discussions with the Whitecaps regarding the opportunity to award a Major League Soccer expansion team to Vancouver in the future."

doesnt exactly sound like MLS are thrilled with the idea.....its exactly what i said...if the other stadium is concrete they would allow BC place, but do the people in vancouver see it as temporary?.....i still dont see where it says that is the plan....until the mayor or the people involved in the waterfront stadium actually say they they percieve this as a temporary move, i wont believe it......can you imagine the USL whitecaps playing on a plastic field with football lines and 52 000 empty seats...that will be awesome.

renovating BC place is a great thing, but i would be very surprised if this moves the city into MLS's sights....there are several cities now with appropriate venues (montreal included), looking for franchises.

MLS isnt exactly clamouring to get into vancouver...this will not woo them, unless the waterfront stadium is more real as a future project.

MLS was very interested in seattle and their ownership group...thats why they allowed a substandard venue...vancouver has to compete with larger cities that are ready now...not possibly in 10 years...

MLS will not move into BC place....guaranteed....not without a solid plan in place for a move to an appropriate venue.

the whitecaps should distance themselves from this because it will only slow progess on a real stadium...public perception will be why allow another stadium when we are spending 200m on BC place...why cant they play there?

^ wow, you're a real party pooper over nothing.

Fact is, the MLS has previously stated before that Vancouver is on the top of their list and when we have a soccer-acceptable stadium, they'll take a good look at us and consider.



The MLS has already made precedent with Seattle, New York, and New England's MLS teams - all share stadiums with NFL franchises.

^It partly makes sense that MLS would be interested in Whitecaps (I'm not a big "football"/soccer fan)...but, is there solid proof that Vancouver is "on the top of their list"?

Wouldn't Van be the smallest market in the league if they had a team? I would just imagine they might want to venture into other larger markets first (could be wrong...).

Anyway, I agree with TV that its pretty well-known they want a soccer specific stadium on a smaller scale.

Oh - those shots of BC Place does look cool - I hope they go ahead with that idea...any idea what the lifespan on a roof like that would be?

Very cool idea - I like the water front treatment too... definitely a worthy addition