BC Place shows off high-tech World Cup pitch as pricey upgrades revealed

A new grass pitch is among the improvements to the Vancouver stadium that officials showed off at a pre-tournament tour.

A first look inside BC Place is offering new details on major upgrades ahead of the FIFA World Cup, including a newly installed natural grass pitch that will take centre stage next month.

The stadium unveiled the upgrades Tuesday, with less than a month to go before Vancouver hosts seven tournament matches, beginning June 13.

At the centre of the transformation is a temporary, FIFA-mandated natural grass field, replacing the stadium’s usual artificial turf.

While it may look like a typical soccer pitch, the surface is anything but.

The field is made up of a custom blend of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass, designed to withstand the demands of high-level competition. It was grown locally in the Fraser Valley, brought in in sections and installed inside the stadium on a specialized base.

“This grass comes straight out of the Fraser Valley from Abbotsford. Installed, by a company out of Langley. Managed by a company out of Burnaby,” Premier David Eby said.

Because BC Place is a domed venue, the grass requires constant care, including the use of specialized grow lights to keep it alive throughout the tournament.

Officials say the pitch is temporary and will only be in place for the seven World Cup matches. Natural grass is not designed to last long-term indoors, and once the tournament wraps, the stadium will install a new artificial turf surface.

The field is just one part of a broader overhaul at BC Place.

Upgrades include new hospitality spaces and media areas, renovated locker rooms and washrooms, improved accessibility features, and upgraded video screens above the field.

“These upgrades weren’t designed just for FIFA,” said BC Place general manager Chris May. “They’re about creating a more flexible, more sustainable and more competitive venue that can support a diversified range of events, long after the final whistle and well into the future.”

The total cost of the upgrades for taxpayers is expected to be between $171 million and $181 million, with the grass installation itself costing several million dollars.

But the premier says the investment will pay off.

“All told, we’re expecting about $1 billion in economic impact on B.C.’s economy coming from this world class sporting event,” Eby said.

Following the tournament, BC Place officials tell CTV News that new, upgraded artificial turf will be installed and replaced every three years.

The first match at BC Place will see Australia take on Turkiye on June 13.