The BC Lions, Vancouver's CFL team, will play their final preseason game at UBC’s David Sidoo Field at Thunderbird Stadium on June 19. The Lions will be playing the Edmonton Eskimos with a 7:00pm Friday night kickoff.
The Lions were unable to play at BC Place, their usual home field, due to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Kavie Toor, the facilities and business development director for UBC’s Athletics and Recreation department, sees UBC’s partnership with the Lions as part of a growing number of partnerships aimed at expanding Vancouver and Thunderbird sports at the university and in province.
“I think the partnerships that we’ve seen recently with the Whitecaps, with the Lions, with Canadian Tire, are more a sign of things to come,” said Toor, referencing a recent Canadian Tire advertisement featured UBC football players. “There’s a renewed focus and effort and energy to seek out more partnerships like that will bring added value and profile to the university and the athletics department.”
The Lions game will be played at David Sidoo field which seats 3,500 but UBC hopes to sell additional standing room only tickets to boost capacity to around 10,000.
Toor stressed that UBC and the Lions are partnering for the event, the Lions are not just renting the field. Marketing, entertainment, food and beverage responsibilities will be splits between the team and UBC.
Tickets are yet to go on sale but due to the limited seating at the event, season ticket holders will have first pick. Standing room tickets are estimated to be $25.