Make Your Plans for the 111th Grey Cup Coming to BC Place

Leo the Lion, Photo: Grey Cup Festival

Canadian football fans, start planning your trip to the 111th annual Grey Cup hosted this year in Vancouver at BC Place Stadium on Sunday, November 17. Canada’s biggest sporting event returns to the West Coast for the first time in a decade for what’s sure to be an exciting weekend of fun, festivities, and football!

BC Lions Play Host

99th Grey Cup, Photo: Grey Cup Festival

No matter which teams will be competing in the 2024 CFL championship matchup, the BC Lions organization will play host to the big game for the 17th time and they’re promising a massive party. Vancouver has not hosted the Grey Cup since the 102nd edition in 2014. Beyond just football, it’s a yearly celebration of Canadian culture and community spirit, regardless of the teams playing.

Grey Cup organizers are expecting a huge turnout for the sporting event with over half a million fans from across the country expected to join in on the football festivities that will extend longer than ever before. Make sure to plan ahead to avoid missing out on the best travel options and bookings.

Grey Cup Festival

BC Lions Backyard, Photo: Jonathan Evans/Grey Cup Festival

Before the big game on Sunday, there will be a week-long party with plenty of live music, special events, and family activities planned. From November 10 to 17, Canada Place Way and the areas around the Vancouver Convention Centre will transform into a hub of activities as the official Grey Cup fan zone, taking over the blocks between Thurlow and Howe.

The Grey Cup Festival will be a lively ongoing event with 20+ live music acts performing free outdoor concerts in addition to mini football fields, food trucks, cultural displays, and tons of family-friendly activities.

Image: Grey Cup Festival

From November 13 to 16, the festival goes into high gear with a Kickoff Party and immersive football experience planned that includes:

Team Party Headquarters – Each CFL team will have a dedicated party room with live music, games, and food trucks (19+ only)
Saturday Night Concert – A TBA headliner concert will close the festival with 3,000 fans expected to attend
Family Zone – An interactive, safe, fun, and inclusive space for all ages with a mini field for football games and drills, sponsor activations, a kids’ combine, and an inflatable obstacle course
Street Festival – 3½ days of activities including mini football fields, live music, food trucks, and unique partner activations, all free for fans of all ages

There will also be two new ziplines for fans to ride:

Harbour Zipline – a 500-foot ride five stories above the ocean between the Vancouver Convention Centre West and East
Street Zipline – a 530-foot ride over Canada Place Way for a full aerial view of the festival from above

Halftime Show

Image: Grey Cup Festival

It was just announced that superstar pop rock trio, the Jonas Brothers, will headline the Halftime Show at this year’s Grey Cup! They follow last year’s performance from punk legends Green Day who brought the house down with their headlining performance in Hamilton.

“After bringing The Tour to Vancouver last November, we were so excited for the opportunity to return and perform at the Grey Cup this November,” said Nick, Joe, and Kevin Jonas jointly about their latest gig.

Hotels Near BC Place

The Douglas, Autograph Collection, Photo: Rick Chung/YVArcade

It’s recommended that travellers consider booking their accommodations sooner rather than later to ensure a smooth trip and trouble-free stay for a fun-filled Grey Cup weekend.

Downtown Vancouver and the area around the Stadium District are within walking distance or a short trip to dozens of great hotel options. Nearby are the JW Marriott and The Douglas hotels, both located inside the Parq Vancouver entertainment complex.

Other popular hotels close by include the Rosedale on Robson, Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Hotel BLU, and Georgian Court Hotel. For those seeking more boutique options downtown, try the Moda Hotel, Victorian Hotel, or Opus Hotel.

Grey Cup in False Creek, Photo: Mark Yuen

Tickets for the 111th Grey Cup will go on sale starting June 4 at 2pm PDT on Ticketmaster. For more details about the game and festival, visit the Grey Cup’s website.