Professional Sports

For the latest on Vancouver sports events, contact Tickets Tonight (www.ticketstonight.ca) or visit their booth within the Tourism Vancouver Visitor Centre.

• Hockey
• Canadian Football
• Soccer
• Baseball

Hockey
The Canadian love of hockey has supported the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks (www.canucks.com) franchise since the mid-70s. Debate over the team, its management, staff, players and the team's variable fortunes reigns hot and heavy in the media and on the streets. In the spring of 1995, the Canucks, who play at the city's Rogers Arena, captured the imagination of the entire province, when they came within a goal of winning the coveted Stanley Cup. Those who can't get tickets to a Canucks game should consider checking-out the Western Hockey League's Vancouver Giants (www.vancouvergiants.com), who play at the Pacific Coliseum.

Canadian Football
The BC Lions (www.bclions.com), who play in the 60,000-seat BC Place Stadium, were Canadian Football League champions in 2006. The football season runs from June to November, culminating in the championship game for the Grey Cup. Canadian football is played with three downs, compared with four in American football, and takes place on a longer and wider field than US teams use. Aficionados claim it makes the Canadian game faster and more exciting, with more passing. Judge for yourself.

Soccer
The world's most popular game, soccer is played professionally in Vancouver by the Vancouver Whitecaps (www.whitecapsfc.com), who join North America’s Major League Soccer franchise in 2011. The Whitecaps will move into BC Place Stadium in the summer of 2011 when renovations on the roof are complete. BC Place Stadium’s roof is currently being transformed from an air-supported system to a fully retractable one. That means soccer fans will be able to experience the game the way it was meant to be – in an intimate atmosphere, with seating close to the pitch, and an open air roof for balmy summer nights.

Baseball
Strike, you're out! Baseball is a local tradition thanks to the Vancouver Canadians (www.canadiansbaseball.com), the city's short-season, single-A team. Enjoy a spirited Canadians game from June through September at historic Nat Bailey Stadium.