BC Lions tickets start at about C$19 through the club’s official seller, Ticketmaster, and for a regular-season game you rarely need to buy far ahead: booking a week or two out mostly gets you a better choice of sideline seats. In 2026 the Lions play seven regular-season home games at BC Place, and the last two are Friday nights, October 9 against the Ottawa REDBLACKS and October 23 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, both scheduled for 7 p.m. After that, the only CFL football left in Vancouver this year is a home playoff game, if the Lions earn one.
This guide is for visitors who want a night of Canadian football and locals who have never got round to going. The caveat that matters: the 2026 home calendar is almost done and playoff games depend on the standings, so don’t build a trip around one until it’s confirmed. Everything here was checked September 26, 2026 against official sources: the BC Lions, the CFL, BC Place and TransLink. If you’re weighing the Lions against hockey or soccer, our guide to sports in Vancouver lines up every team and venue.
A BC Lions game at a glance
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Cost | From about C$19 a seat (the club’s stated starting price, September 2026); lower-bowl sideline seats cost far more, prices move with the opponent and demand, and fees are added at checkout |
| Time needed | About 3 hours for the game, plus an hour to get through the gates, eat and find your seat |
| Best games | Late-season Friday nights and Western Division rivals, when the standings are at stake |
| Book ahead? | A week or two for good sideline seats; the day they go on sale for a playoff game |
| Getting there | SkyTrain’s Expo Line to Stadium–Chinatown, a few minutes’ walk from the gates |
| Weather risk | None worth worrying about: BC Place has a retractable roof |
Which BC Lions home games are left in 2026?
Two regular-season games and, possibly, a playoff game. The season started strangely. With BC Place hosting seven FIFA World Cup matches in June and July, the Lions opened on the road, played two home games at Save-On-Foods Field at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna (billed as Touchdown Kelowna) and didn’t play at BC Place until July 25. That left seven home dates in Vancouver instead of the usual nine.
| Date | Game | Scheduled kickoff | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, October 9 | vs Ottawa REDBLACKS | 7 p.m. | Ottawa’s only visit of the season, and the last East Division team in town this year |
| Friday, October 23 | vs Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 7 p.m. | The regular-season finale against a Western rival; playoff seeding may ride on it |
| Early to mid-November | Western Semi-Final or Western Final | Set by the league | Only if the Lions finish second (semi-final) or first (final) in the West |
| Sunday, November 15 | 113th Grey Cup | Set by the league | Played at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, not Vancouver |
Kickoff times come from the club’s December 2025 schedule release; broadcasters occasionally move games, so trust the time on your ticket.
The CFL’s playoff format is easy once it’s written down. Three teams from each division qualify. First place gets a bye and hosts the division final; second hosts third in the semi-final. The wrinkle is the crossover: a fourth-place team with more points than the other division’s third-place team takes that spot. Home playoff tickets can only go on sale once the game is confirmed, which may leave barely a week’s notice.
How do you buy BC Lions tickets?
Start with the official seller. The club sells 2026 single-game tickets through Ticketmaster.ca and says its options start at C$19. Expect the cheapest seats to be high in the upper bowl; prices climb with the section and the opponent, and service fees go on at checkout, so compare the all-in price rather than the headline number.
The club sells bundles too, though with two home games left in 2026 most matter more for next season. This is what its ticket page listed in September 2026; read it as a map of the options rather than a quote.
| Option | What you get | Best for | Check before buying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-game ticket | One seat for one game, any section on sale | Visitors and first-timers | The all-in price after fees |
| White Spot Family Pak | Four tickets and a C$50 White Spot gift card for C$119 | Families of four | Which games and sections it covers |
| First Game On Us | Up to two complimentary tickets for eligible fans | Locals who have never been to a game | The eligibility rules |
| Half season | Four games, saving up to 13% on single-game prices | Locals who want a few nights out | Which four games you’re committing to |
| Flex pack | Ten tickets to spread across the BC Place games, saving up to 16% | Groups who will go more than once | How seats are assigned for each game |
| Full season | Every regular-season game at BC Place (seven in 2026) | Committed fans | Renewal dates and payment plans |
| Quarterback Club | One youth and one adult season ticket for C$200 | A parent taking a young fan all season | The youth age limit |
Verdict: For one game on a visit, a single ticket from the official seller is the simplest answer. If there are four of you and you’d happily eat at White Spot anyway, the Family Pak works out to less per ticket than the cheapest single seat, gift card included.
Is resale worth it for a Lions game?
For a regular-season game, rarely. Check the official seller first, since its event page may also list resale seats from other fans. Third-party marketplaces earn their keep for a sold-out playoff game, but compare the final price after fees. Skip social-media sellers entirely: a barcode in a screenshot is only as good as the honesty of whoever took it.
Where should you sit at BC Place for a Lions game?
Football rewards height. From the first few rows the field flattens out, and from 2026 you’d also be looking over a team bench: the CFL now puts the two benches on opposite sides of the field, so both sidelines have a wall of players, coaches and camera crews in front of the lowest seats. A seat well up in the lower bowl, between the two 35-yard lines, is the sweet spot for watching plays develop across a field 65 yards wide.
The upper bowl is where the cheapest tickets are, and from up there you look down on the whole field, which is not a bad way to learn an unfamiliar game. The trade-off is distance from the noise, which collects in the lower bowl. End-zone seats cost less than the sidelines and are good for goal-line plays and kicks, since the goalposts still stand on the goal line in 2026.
A few practical notes. Children 12 and under must be with a guardian aged 19 or older. If you need step-free access, use Gates A, B or H, which you reach from Beatty Street along Terry Fox Plaza; Gates C, D and E on Pacific Boulevard involve stairs. Seat maps, food, accessibility services and the rest of the house rules are in our BC Place Stadium guide.
What’s different about Canadian football?
If you’ve watched the NFL, you’ll recognize the game within a series or two. The differences push teams to throw the ball and gamble:
- Twelve players a side, not eleven. The extra player is often another receiver on offence and another defensive back on defence.
- Three downs to make 10 yards, not four. Teams usually punt or try a field goal on third down, so offences throw more and possession swings often.
- A bigger field. In 2026 it’s still 110 yards between the goal lines and 65 yards wide, with 20-yard end zones, and midfield is the 55-yard line. From 2027 the league shortens it to 100 yards, trims the end zones to 15 yards and moves the goalposts to the back of the end zone.
- Motion before the snap. Backs and receivers can run toward the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped, so receivers often hit the line at full speed.
- A yard of breathing room. The defence lines up a yard off the ball.
- No fair catch. Punt returners must be given five yards; crowd them and it’s a “no yards” penalty.
- The rouge. A single point for some kicks that end in the end zone. From 2026 it’s narrower: no point for a field goal that misses wide or for a kick that goes out of the end zone untouched, but a single still counts when the returner is tackled in the end zone or takes a knee.
- A faster clock. From 2026 the 35-second play clock starts automatically when the previous play is whistled dead, and each half ends with a three-minute warning rather than a two-minute one.
Verdict: Give it a quarter. By halftime the third-down punts feel normal, and the NFL’s four downs may start to look a little leisurely.
How do you get to BC Place for a Lions game?
Take SkyTrain. The Expo Line’s Stadium–Chinatown station is a few minutes’ walk from the Beatty Street gates, and it’s three stops from Waterfront downtown. From the Canada Line, the airport and Richmond line, either change to the Expo Line at Waterfront or get off at Yaletown–Roundhouse and walk about 15 minutes.
Fares are simple on game night. A single adult fare in one zone costs C$3.50 when you tap a contactless card or phone, or C$2.85 with a Compass Card, and it’s valid for 90 minutes. Trips that start after 6:30 p.m. on weekdays, and all weekend, are charged as one zone wherever you go on SkyTrain, bus or SeaBus, so the ride home to Burnaby, Richmond or Surrey after a Friday 7 p.m. kickoff costs the same as a hop across downtown. Children 12 and under ride free.
Driving works, but event parking near the stadium is limited and the exit is slow. After the final whistle the Stadium–Chinatown platform takes a while to clear; walking back to a downtown hotel is often quicker, and Granville station is about 10 minutes away on foot, with fewer elbows. Our Vancouver transportation guide covers passes, zones and the airport fare.
What should you know before game day?
BC Place runs a clear bag policy: one small bag no larger than 6.5 by 8.5 inches (about 16.5 by 21.6 cm), or a clear plastic bag up to 12 by 12 by 6 inches (about 30 by 30 by 15 cm), with exceptions for diaper bags and medically necessary items. Anything bigger goes to bag check at C$10 a piece, first come, first served. The stadium is cashless, taking tap, debit, Visa, Mastercard, Amex and phone wallets; if you only have cash, a cash-to-card kiosk sells vouchers that work at every food and drink stand. There are no in-and-out privileges, so once you’ve scanned in, you’re in for the night.
Aim to arrive about an hour before kickoff, which leaves time for security and a beer. BC Place sits on the edge of downtown rather than in a sea of parking lots, so the easy pre-game is dinner in Yaletown, Gastown or Chinatown, all within a 20-minute walk. If you’d rather watch than go, the city’s sports bars show Lions games on TSN, which carries the CFL in Canada.
Is a BC Lions game worth it for visitors?
Yes, if you want a big-league night out that doesn’t cost what the Canucks do. A Lions ticket is one of the cheapest ways into a major professional game in Vancouver, and the CFL’s pace and oddities make it fun even if you’ve never followed a down of it. The honest caveat is scale: BC Place is a very large room, and on a quiet night the atmosphere thins out. Pick a Friday night against a Western rival, or a playoff game, and it’s a different building.
| Ticket | Venue | Season | Why pick it |
|---|---|---|---|
| BC Lions (CFL) | BC Place | June to October, playoffs in November | Cheap entry, easy seats, the most unusual game of the three |
| Vancouver Canucks (NHL) | Rogers Arena | October to April | The city’s biggest team and loudest crowd; pricier and harder to get |
| Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS) | BC Place | Late winter to autumn | Standing, singing supporters’ sections behind the goals |
The Whitecaps share the building, and our Whitecaps match guide covers the soccer side of BC Place.
How did the Lions end up at BC Place?
The Lions played their first season in 1954 at Empire Stadium, on the grounds of what’s now Hastings Park in East Vancouver, and moved downtown when BC Place opened in 1983. They’ve won the Grey Cup six times, in 1964, 1985, 1994, 2000, 2006 and 2011, and two of those, 1994 and 2011, were won at home at BC Place. When the stadium closed for its new retractable roof, the team spent 2010 and much of 2011 at the temporary Empire Field before returning downtown for the reopening in the fall of 2011.
BC Place most recently hosted the Grey Cup in November 2024, when Toronto beat Winnipeg in the 111th final. The 113th Grey Cup is at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Sunday, November 15, 2026. If the Lions get there, expect Grey Cup parties all over town. If they don’t, expect them anyway.
Planning a Lions game in 2027
The 2026 schedule came out on December 9, 2025, with single-game ticket details promised for the new year, so expect a similar timeline for 2027. The field changes too: the 100-yard field, shorter end zones and goalposts at the back of the end zone all arrive in 2027. And watch the pre-season: the Lions’ 2026 home pre-season game was played at Starlight Stadium in Langford on Vancouver Island, a fine excuse for a ferry trip in late May.
BC Lions tickets FAQ
How much are BC Lions tickets?
The club says its ticket options start at C$19 (September 2026), which gets you the cheapest seats in the house for a regular-season game. Sideline seats in the lower bowl cost far more, prices move with the opponent and demand, and fees are added at checkout. Families of four should look at the White Spot Family Pak, listed at C$119 for four tickets plus a C$50 restaurant gift card.
When is the BC Lions season?
The CFL regular season runs from June to late October, with the playoffs and the Grey Cup in November. In 2026 the Lions play their last two regular-season home games at BC Place on Friday, October 9 against Ottawa and Friday, October 23 against Winnipeg, both scheduled for 7 p.m. A home playoff game is possible only if they finish first or second in the West.
How long does a CFL game last?
Plan on about three hours from kickoff to the final whistle, a little longer with overtime or a flurry of penalties; the automatic 35-second play clock introduced in 2026 keeps things moving. Add an hour before kickoff for security and finding your seat.
Is BC Place covered if it rains?
Yes. BC Place has had a retractable roof since its 2011 rebuild, so rain never stops a Lions game. A wet October Friday only affects the walk from Stadium–Chinatown station, which takes a few minutes: about as dry as Vancouver gets in autumn.
Where is the 2026 Grey Cup?
The 113th Grey Cup is scheduled for Sunday, November 15, 2026 at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, so there’s no championship game in Vancouver this year. BC Place last hosted the Grey Cup in November 2024. If you’re in town that Sunday, the game airs on TSN and plenty of the city’s bars will have it on.
Related Vancouver guides
- Vancouver sports guide: every team, venue and season in one place
- BC Place Stadium guide: gates, bags, food and accessibility at the Lions’ home
- Whitecaps match guide: the other team that plays at BC Place
- FIFA World Cup 2026 in Vancouver: why the Lions started their 2026 season on the road
- Vancouver transportation guide: fares, zones and SkyTrain lines
Sources and verification
Checked on September 26, 2026 against the club, league, stadium and transit agency listed below. This guide was compiled from their published schedules, policies and fares rather than from other travel lists, and it doesn’t claim first-hand visits. Ticket packages and kickoff times change, so confirm with the club before you buy.
- BC Lions: ticket options, First Game On Us, 2026 schedule release (December 9, 2025)
- Canadian Football League: 2026 and 2027 rule and field changes, game changes FAQ
- BC Place: guest policies, clear bag policy, cashless payments, accessibility
- TransLink: fares and fare zones
Photo credits
- BC Place football layout: photo by One95, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Terry Fox Plaza: photo by Rlread52, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- BC Lions at the Toronto Argonauts, 2024: photo by Cmm3, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Stadium–Chinatown station, Beatty Street entrance: photo by Yuet Man Lee, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- BC Lions at BC Place, 2005: photo by Thomas Quine, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
- 111th Grey Cup at BC Place, 2024: photo by Cmm3, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- BC Place at night over False Creek (featured image): photo by Ryan Adams, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)