The Vancouver Sporting Scene
If you want to incorporate a sporting event into your bachelor party weekend, then Vancouver can cover all the bases (pun intended) as the city is home to several professional teams. The good news is that regardless of what time of year your party is there is a good chance a game will be on, meaning you and your bachelor crew can sink some beers and soak up the atmosphere. Below we break down which professional teams call Vancouver their home.
Vancouver Canucks (Hockey) - Season typically runs From October-April
The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference and they play their home games at the Rogers Arena. Situated in Downtown Vancouver, the stadium has a capacity of just under 19,000 which provides an electric hockey atmosphere, albeit with what seems like only one crowd chant of “Go Canucks Go!”
On the ice, the Canucks don’t have a particularly rich pedigree and have never won a Stanley Cup but they have reached the Finals on 3 occasions in 1982, 1994, and most recently in 2011.
BC Lions (Football) - Season typically runs From June-October
The BC Lions who are nicknamed the Leos are a professional football team based in Vancouver and are the oldest professional franchise in the city. They compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and play their home games at BC Place. The stadium is one of the most modern in Canada and was created for world-class events and lays claim to having the largest retractable roof in the world. The capacity is 54,500 and has over 800 Wi-Fi points and 1250 digital screens creating a true technologically advanced experience.
The BC Lions have had their fair share of success since joining the CFL in 1954 and featured in the Grey Cup championship game 10 times, picking up the trophy on 6 of those occasions, most recently in 2011.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (Soccer) - Season typically runs from February to October
The Whitecaps are a professional soccer team that competes in the Major League Soccer (MLS) as part of the Western Conference. Like the BC Lions, they play their home games at BC Place and are one of the newer franchises in the city and were established in 2009. They are also the only Canadian team to qualify for the MLS cup playoffs which they managed to achieve in 2012.
Although soccer in Canada is very different culturally from what you would expect across Europe and South America you can still expect the Vancouver Southsiders, who are the oldest organized supporters group in Canada to create a raucous atmosphere. On game day they can be found in the south stand behind the goal which is conveniently situated near the beer garden, they welcome anyone to join them and intend to make life difficult for the opposition team...!
Vancouver Canadians (Baseball) - Season typically runs from April to September
Although there is no Major League Baseball team in Vancouver the city does have its own Minor League Baseball team, the Vancouver Canadians, who are an affiliate team of the more prestigious Toronto Blue Jays. Games take place at the Nat Bailey Stadium and with an intimate capacity of 6500 it offers a very unique ball game experience, that spans far further than the action taking place on the diamond.
One of its more treasured and unhealthy attractions is the 3-foot-long hot dogs aptly named “Yard Dogs” and these have become somewhat famous and a mini eating challenge in itself. This classic ballpark is a great way to spend a few hours in the sun, drinking beers, and generally having a good time!
Would you want to catch a game as part of your bachelor party?
So, there you have it, a very brief overview of the professional sports scene in Vancouver! If you are planning a bachelor party in the city, why not add a Hockey, Football or Soccer game to your itinerary? For passionate sports fans, there is nothing better than catching a game as a big group and really getting amongst the atmosphere. Wolfpack Weekends can offer tickets and various packages for a range of different games, so please get in touch if you would like us to help out.