The new roof will be supported by 36 masts, each one 50 metres long. The roof fabric will take about 20 minutes to open or close above the field area. It is also designed to hold seven million kilograms of wet heavy snow.
The new architectural signature will transform BC Place into a year-round, open-air venue. The retreating roof will give a clear view of over 7500 square metres of clear blue sky. All 55,000 seats will remain covered at all times.
The stadium will be reinforced with thicker support columns and giant shock absorbers called seismic dampers which will be installed beneath to help it survive a large earthquake. The renovation will also include new four-sided, high-definition, centre-hung video board, new upgraded stadium lighting and sound systems and new artificial turf playing surface.
The renovation project is the one of the biggest in Canadian history.
