Get your five-day weather
Canada > Archive by tag 'spectator sports'

spectator sports

Hot Entertainment: The Sporting Life

Soccer ball photo copyright Mikdam/Dreamstime

Tennis Canada takes on France in the Davis Cup, at Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre (Feb. 10 to 12).

Soccer Goooaaalll! That’s what the eight teams are shooting for in CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Soccer, at BC Place Stadium (Jan. 19 to 29).

Basketball An evening watching the Harlem Globetrotters perform? It’s a slam dunk, at Rogers Arena (Feb. 24).

Hockey Luongo, Kesler, the Sedins and the rest of the Vancouver Canucks have the home-ice advantage for several games, at Rogers Arena.—Sheri Radford

Grey Cup Fever

Touchdown! The renovated BC Place stadium welcomes the 99th annual Grey Cup

By Leszek Apouchtine, Jennifer Patterson & Sheri Radford

Photo courtesy BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo)

ROAR, YOU LIONS, ROAR!

“The Pride of all BC” plans to roar past the competition and play in the 99th Grey Cup this month at BC Place. The BC Lions, Vancouver’s professional football team, have called BC Place home ever since the stadium opened in 1983. They were forced to relocate for more than a season while the stadium was renovated, but returned to their home turf at the end of September to a near-capacity crowd of more than 50,000 screaming fans. (more…)

Go Canucks Go!

To mark the start of the local NHL team’s 41st season, we present an intro to the Canucks, Vancouver’s favourite team

By Sheri Radford

Brimming over with team spirit, this Vancouver Canucks fan shows her true colours. Photo by Jeff Vinnick courtesy Vancouver Canucks

Fevered Fans
Die-hard Canucks supporters never stop believing. Their beloved team has made it to the Stanley Cup finals three times, and even gone all the way to game seven—twice—but has never won the coveted trophy. Local fans remain faithful, though, already anticipating that lucky season 41 will see Roberto Luongo, Ryan Kesler, the Sedin twins and all the rest of the hardworking lads bring Lord Stanley’s cup home to its rightful place, within sight of the 400-hectare (1,000-acre) park that also bears Stanley’s name. Season 40 proved to be the most successful so far, racking up the Presidents’ Trophy for the team, the Art Ross Trophy for Daniel Sedin (one year after his identical twin, Henrik, won the honour) and the William M. Jennings Trophy for goalies Luongo and Cory Schneider. Fans are already breaking out the blue and green face paint and hand-lettering signs in anticipation of the season opener Oct. 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Tickets
With a waitlist for season’s tickets estimated to be up to a decade long, and every game sold out since November 2002, tickets to Canucks games are harder to find than a Toronto Maple Leafs fan in downtown Vancouver—unless you know where to look. Visit www.ticket master.ca first. If that ends in a shutout, try the Prime Seat Club on canucks.nhl.com. It’s where season’s-ticket holders sell off unneeded tickets. Follow the team on Twitter (twitter.com/VanCanucks) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/Canucks) to get updates on last-minute ticket releases.

Gear
Looking for your own Luongo jersey or Kesler t-shirt? Head to the Canucks Team Store to find everything from official jerseys, hockey pucks and baseball hats to foam fingers, coffee mugs and adorable little onesies.

Goalie Roberto Luongo high-fives eager fans. Photo by Jeff Vinnick courtesy Vancouver Canucks

Clues That the Canucks Are in Town

  • Line-ups at bars and restaurants with big-screen TVs.
  • Ear-shattering shouts of “Luuuuuuu!”
  • Fans of all ages and sizes, from tots to grannies, dressed in blue and green.
  • Flags and white towels everywhere.
  • Hand-lettered signs reading “Believe” and “Ryan Kesler, marry me!” and the ubiquitous “Go Canucks go!”
  • Across the street from Rogers Arena, a line-up out the door at the Costco concession, where $1.50 buys a jumbo hot dog and pop.
  • Random sightings of the spandex-clad green men.

Where to Watch
If you can’t score tickets to a seat in Rogers Arena, head to one of the many restaurants and bars around town filled with giant screens showing the game. A few of our favourites:

  • Forum.
  • G Sports Bar and Grill.
  • Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery.
  • Score on Davie.
  • Cactus Club Cafe.
  • Phat Sports Bar and Restaurant.
  • Shark Club Bar and Grill. We especially love that this one briefly changed its name to the Vancouver Club back in May, while the Canucks battled the San Jose Sharks during the playoffs.

Fans fill Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery to root for the home team. Photo by KK La

October 2011 Home Games at Rogers Arena

Oct. 6 Pittsburgh Penguins

Oct. 18 New York Rangers

Oct. 20 Nashville Predators

Oct. 22 Minnesota Wild

Oct. 26 St. Louis Blues

Oct. 29 Washington Capitals

More information:

CANUCKS TEAM STORE Find official merchandise for the city’s NHL team, the Vancouver Canucks. Apparel, from jerseys to t-shirts, as well as collectibles and memorabilia.

Gate 6 at Rogers Arena, 800 Griffiths Way. 604-899-7890.

1151 Robson St.

Canucks Team Store Outlet, 2893 E. Hastings St. 604-676-8140.

www.canucks.nhl.com

FORUM This bar is often full of excited young sports fans. The karaoke is a fun event to take in with friends (M nights). Open daily.

1163 Granville St. 604-605-1163.

www.forumsportsbar.com

G SPORTS BAR AND GRILL Serves comfort food and streams live sports daily. Low drink prices make it a popular hangout. VIP room available. Open daily.

1208 Granville St. 604-687-7684.

www.thebestgspot.com

RED CARD SPORTS BAR + EATERY Watch your favourite game while dining on Italian cuisine in a restored heritage building. Open daily.

900 Seymour St. 604-689-4460.

www.redcardsportsbar.com

SCORE ON DAVIE This friendly neighbourhood bar has strategically placed TVs throughout the room, making it a fun place to watch the game. Features a daily brunch starting at 10 am.

1262 Davie St. 604-632-1646.

CACTUS CLUB CAFE Best Casual Chain, Vancouver magazine since 2008. Great vibe, mod decor and globally inspired dishes. Come for drinks or dinner. $$. L/D (daily).

588 Burrard St. 604-682-0933.

1136 Robson St. 604-687-3278.

357 Davie St. 604-685-8070.

1530 W. Broadway. 604-733-0434.

www.cactusclubcafe.com

PHAT SPORTS BAR AND RESTAURANT Savour hot Montreal-style smoked meat on rye served with a kosher dill pickle. Freshly made wild mushroom bisque and matzo ball soup are delicious sides. $. B/L/D (daily).

1055 Mainland St. 604-684-6239.

www.phatdeli.com

SHARK CLUB BAR AND GRILL Sports goodies decorate the walls, while TVs around the room show worldwide sporting events. Extensive menu. DJs spin top 40 on the dance floor, F-Sa. Open daily.

180 W. Georgia St. 604-687-4275.

www.sharkclubs.com

75 Things Kids Love About Vancouver

In honour of the Where brand’s 75th anniversary, we present 75 things that tots, tykes and teens love about the city

By Sheri Radford // Photos By KK Law

Ideal sandcastle territory: Second Beach on English Bay

1 Seeing the entire city spread out below from the top of the Vancouver Lookout at Harbour Centre.
2 The blue whale skeleton at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum.
3 Watching larger-than-life movies in the OMNIMAX Theatre.
4 Oh-so-thick milkshakes at Marble Slab Creamery.
5 Exploring the 1950s gallery at the Museum of Vancouver.
6 Douglas Coupland’s 8-m- (25-ft-) tall “Digital Orca” art installation outside the Vancouver Convention Centre, which looks like it was built entirely out of giant Lego blocks.
7 Satisfying a sweet tooth at The Candy Aisle.
8 Splashing around in the Granville Island Waterpark.
9 Watching the CAF Snowbirds roar overhead during the Abbotsford International Airshow (Aug. 12 to 14).
10 Pirate Paks from White Spot. Aarrgghh, matey!
11 Spotting all of the wildlife in Stanley Park—but staying far, far away from skunks.
12 Making sandcastles on the beach.
13 Science World at Telus World of Science. Who knew learning could be so much fun?
14 Watching a Vancouver Canadian hit one right out of the park at Nat Bailey Stadium.
15 The Superdogs at the PNE (Aug. 20 to Sep. 5). And the mini donuts. And the gravity-defying rides. And pretty much everything about the PNE, really. Bonus: this year, kids aged 13 and under get in free.
16 Riding a bike along the seawall.

On a sunny summer's day, kids of all ages can't resist the playground at Stanley Park's Second Beach

17 Sipping a freckled lemonade (sweet strawberries mixed with tangy lemonade) at Red Robin.
18 All of the kites and puppets for sale in the aptly named Kites & Puppets shop.
19 Learning about First Nations culture at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC.
20 The mind-boggling assortment of comic books and action figures at Golden Age Collectables.
21 Running around with Fido or Rover in off-leash dog parks.
22 Jumping when the Nine O’Clock Gun goes off each evening in Stanley Park.
23 Playmobil toys at The Granville Island Toy Company.
24 Zipping along on the SkyTrain.
25 Rain. After all, rain creates mud puddles, and mud puddles create fun.
26 Getting the creeps at the Vancouver Police Museum. Forensics workshops are ideal for kids with an interest in the science of police work.
27 Seeing orcas up close on a whale watching tour.

Granville Island's Kids Market

28 The Disney Store in Metropolis at Metrotown.
29 Riding Aquabus Ferries or False Creek Ferries to Granville Island.
30 Roaring along with the lions and tigers at the Greater Vancouver Zoo.
31 Caramel apples from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.
32 Watching jumbo jets take off from Vancouver International Airport.
33 Kayaking around False Creek.
34 Snuggling into a thick fleece blanket to enjoy musicals under the setting sun at Theatre Under the Stars (to Aug. 20).
35 A big bowl of spaghetti—perfect for slurping up one piece at a time—at The Old Spaghetti Factory. Bonus: every dinner ends with ice cream.
36 Seeing the Vancouver Whitecaps—BC’s first Major League Soccer club—in action on Empire Field.
37 Grinder and Coola. These two orphaned grizzly bears live in the wildlife refuge on Grouse Mountain.
38 Spending a rainy day wandering through the Vancouver Art Gallery.
39 Making a splash in Kitsilano Pool or Second Beach Pool.
40 Cool organic clothing at Hip Baby and Dandelion Kids.
41 Hopping around in the ball room at Ikea.
42 Totem poles.
43 Watching the Celebration of Light (Aug. 3 and 6) fireworks light up the skies over English Bay.
44 Finding the perfect bead for a craft project at Beadworks.
45 Spending an hour—or five—exploring the Kids Market on Granville Island.
46 All of the movies filmed here, such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Tron: Legacy, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, Deck the Halls, Jumanji, Elf, Air Bud, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Night at the Museum and the Twilight series.
47 Riding the SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay.

Bill Reid's "Chief of the Undersea World" welcomes visitors to the Vancouver Aquarium

48 Seeing the BC Lions football team score touchdown after touchdown on Empire Field.
49 Learning about pirates, shipwrecks and sunken treasure at the Vancouver Maritime Museum.
50 Watching Shakespeare’s plays performed in a tent at Bard on the Beach (to Sep. 24).
51 Getting an adrenaline rush on Cliffwalk at the Capilano Suspension Bridge.
52 Exploring the solar system at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre.
53 Handcrafted wooden cars from Knotty Toys.
54 Meeting all of the baby animals at Maplewood Farm.
55 Cory Monteith. The Glee star was raised in Victoria and began his acting career here in Vancouver, appearing in locally filmed TV shows such as Smallville, Stargate SG-1 and Supernatural.
56 Browsing for the perfect summertime read in Kidsbooks.
57 Watching buskers perform on Granville Island.
58 Getting lost (and found again!) in Meadows Maze and in the Elizabethan hedge maze at VanDusen Botanical Garden.
59 Biting into a juicy burger from Nimby Burger while enjoying the sunshine on Kits Beach.
60 Riding the 99-year-old carousel at the Burnaby Village Museum.
61 All of the exotic birds in the Bloedel Conservatory.
62 Walking a pooch in Pacific Spirit Regional Park.
63 Flying a kite in Vanier Park.
64 Seeing the forest from above on the Greenheart Canopy Walkway in UBC Botanical Garden.
65 Racing around Richmond Go-Kart Track.
66 All of the different types of hot dog—and different brands of root beer—at Dougie Dog.
67 Riding the miniature railway at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park.
68 Finding the perfect pair of frog- or flower-adorned gumboots at Gumdrops.
69 All of the exotic sights, sounds and aromas of Chinatown.
70 Seeing The Wiggles perform (Aug. 9).
71 Sleepovers at the Vancouver Aquarium, to find out first-hand what the 70,000 animals do after dark.
72 Panning for gold at the Britannia Mine Museum.
73 Cupcakes of every size and colour at Cupcakes.
74 Watching seaplanes take off from the inner harbour.
75 Sunny days that go on forever.

Hot Entertainment: Tennis Love

Odlum Brown VanOpen

For the tenth year running the Odlum Brown VanOpen serves up Western Canada’s largest tennis tournament, with players from around the globe competing for a share of the $200,000 purse. Watch for Canadian rising star Aleksandra Wozniak at the event, which is known as a jumping-off point for budding players. The VanOpen scores extra points for its support of the Stand Tall Education Network, a charity that supports African schoolchildren. Catch the game, set and match at Hollyburn Country Club (Jul. 30 to Aug. 7).—Jill Von Sprecken

Hot Entertainment: Goooaaaallll!

Photo copyright Mikdam/Dreamstime

Catch a fast-paced Vancouver Whitecaps soccer game at Empire Field this summer. Join in a rousing chant of “We’re blue, we’re white, we’re f***ing dynamite. Vancouver! Vancouver!” as the home team takes on the Columbus Crew (Jul. 6), the Real Salt Lake (Jul. 16) and David Beckham’s LA Galaxy (Jul. 30). On Jul. 18 enjoy the just-for-fun game against the UK’s Manchester City FC.—Jennifer Patterson

Hot Entertainment: Baseball Fever

Photo courtesy Tourism Vancouver and Vancouver Canadians Professional Baseball Club

This season help the Vancouver Canadians celebrate another year of knocking it out of the park at Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium—the venue saw its first innings in 1951 and is now in its 60th year. The team has their eyes on the big leagues, as a new partnership with Canada’s only Major League team hopes to see more Vancouver Canadians on their way to batter up with the Toronto Blue Jays in the future. Catch opening night as they battle the Yakima Bears on home turf (Jun. 17).—Jill Von Sprecken

Hot Entertainment: Soccer Fever

Vancouver Whitecaps soccer team. Photo by Bob Frid courtesy Whitecaps FC

This much-anticipated season marks the first time the Vancouver Whitecaps get to play against the best of the best. The Caps now rank as a Major League Soccer (MLS) team, justifying their big move to the impressive new BC Place Stadium later this year. Cheer on captain Jay Demerit and his all-star line-up as they take on the likes of Montreal Impact (May 4), San Jose Earthquakes (May 11) and New York Red Bulls (May 28).—Dylan Martin

Hot Entertainment: Hockey Fever

Photo by Jeff Vinnick courtesy Vancouver Canucks

Root for Luongo, Kesler and the rest of the our NHL team, the Vancouver Canucks, on their road to the Stanley Cup. In Jan. and Feb., they play 15 home games, captivating both diehard and fairweather fans in local sports bars. If you want to smell the ice, ask your concierge about tickets—these games sell out quickly.—Kristina Urquhart

Hot Date: Vancouver Canucks

'Nucks fans cheer on their team. Photo by Jeff Vinnick courtesy Vancouver Canucks

Hockey fans rejoice as the new season gets underway this month at Rogers Arena (Oct. 9, 11, 17, 22, 26). The Canucks have sold out every home game since 2002, but determined fans always find a way to snag a seat. Roberto Luongo, Ryan Kesler and the Sedin twins are all back for the latest round of Canada’s unofficial religion, worshipped in arenas large and small across the country.—Sheri Radford

September Hot Date: Play Ball!

BC Lions photo by Caroline Toth

BASEBALL Take me out to the old ballgame: the Canadians wrap up their season at Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium (Sep. 3 to 5).

HOCKEY Luongo, the Sedins and the rest of the Canucks return for pre-season games at Rogers Arena (Sep. 22, 25, 28).

SOCCER The Whitecaps men’s team plays two home games at Swangard Stadium (Sep. 5, 24).

FOOTBALL The Lions face their competitors outdoors, in their temporary home of Empire Field (pictured; Sep. 11, 18).—Sheri Radford

Hot Date: Play Ball!

Vancouver has a variety of spectator sports during the summer. Photo copyright Ranplett/iStockPhoto.com

Sports fans, get ready to make some noise.

BASEBALL When do these guys sleep? The Vancouver Canadians play 16 home games at Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium this month—plus 13 away games.
FOOTBALL The BC Lions take on the Calgary Stampeders (Aug. 7 and 27) at the Leos’ temporary home of Empire Field. The team’s permanent home, downtown’s BC Place, is closed for renovations while a swanky new retractable roof is installed.
SOCCER The Vancouver Whitecaps men’s team faces the Austin Aztex at Swangard Stadium (Aug. 29).—Sheri Radford