PavCo, the Crown Corporation which owns and operates BC Place and the Vancouver Convention Centre, announced Nussli has been awarded the contract to build the temporary stadium at a cost of $14 million including site preparation, with the cost to be covered by BC Place’s operational budget.
The approximate capacity of 27,500 seats will consist of approximately 7400 bench seats, with the remaining 20,100 being individual seats. Sideline seating areas will be covered. In addition, a limited number of private boxes will be created, as well as media facilities, concessions, stadium level lighting, scoreboards, video board and washrooms.
The PNE site selected for the temporary stadium is the old Empire Stadium site, well-known as the former home of the BC Lions, before they moved to BC Place in 1983. It was also the original home of the Vancouver Whitecaps.
In addition, Vancouver MLS 2011 will open their inaugural season as a Major League Soccer franchise with their first few home games at the site. BC Place will be closed from the spring of 2010 until the summer of 2011, in order to permit the construction of its new retractable roof. Temporary grandstands accommodating approximately 27,500 fans are to be erected by mid-June, 2010.
