BC Place, out at 777 Pacific Blvd, Vancouver, BC V6B 4Y8, Canada, is home to the MLS team Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the CFL team, BC Lions. There is a clear bag policy for fans to use if they want to bring a bag into the arena for a game. Clear bags can’t be bigger than 12″ x 12″ x 6″. Exceptions to the clear bag rule include medical bags, ADA-specific bags, and small purses.
Here is the BC Place bag policy for your Canadian Football League Match or Major League Soccer game.
How Does the BC Place Staff Review Your Bag?
Fans going to the Vancouver stadium for a football/soccer match will go through a metal detector screening before scanning their ticket to enter the stadium. Fans with a bag will undergo an additional security check at the entrance gate via a bag inspection. The bag inspection reviews to ensure that the bag complies with the clear bag policy, or if it does not, like a small purse that is not clear, it is no larger than 6.5″ x 8.5″.
Consider purchasing a single-compartment clear bag for your next Vancouver Whitecaps FC / BC Lions Game! BC Place encourages fans only to bring in clear bags into the venue, but there are exceptions to this rule. Below are some types of bags fans can bring into the soccer stadium.
- A clear plastic bag (can have straps) that does not exceed 12″ x 12″ x 6″
- A clear ziplock bag
- Small clutch purses/ belt bags
- A clear fanny pack
- Medical bags/diaper bags (Exceptions can be made for these bags at the gate. However, consider bringing a clear plastic bag for them to the game since that makes it easier to get into the venue)
What Items Can’t You Bring into BC Place for a Football/Soccer Match?
If you are coming to a Whitecaps FC match, read the official prohibited items list beforehand. There are numerous items on the prohibited items list that security won’t allow you to bring into the arena with you for a game. Below are some of those items.
- Bags that exceed the size of 12″ x 12″ x 6″
- Non-compliant bags (Large purses/ pocketbooks, tinted plastic bags, not clear tote bags, backpacks, camera bags, coolers, and luggage)
- Drones
- Fireworks
- Weapons of any kind
- Outside food or drinks (Exceptions can occur with the outside food and drink rule. If you need to bring in something for medical reasons, put that into a clear plastic bag for inspection at the gate’s entrance)
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Is there a Bag Check Area at BC Place for Fans to Use?
BC Place offers a bag check area for fans to use if their bag can’t enter the stadium with them. In 2023, renting out a space for your bag at the Vancouver Whitecaps stadium is $10 per item. As a note, there is a limited number of spaces at the bag check area at the stadium, so plan to arrive two hours before kickoff to ensure you can get a space for your bag if you know it can’t enter the facility. Fans can ask the arena staff where to find this bag check area if they have any questions.
If you drove to the game and can’t leave your stuff in the bag check area, consider leaving them inside your car. Leaving your bag (or prohibited items) in your vehicle is the best option since it costs no money.
Finally, if you took public transportation to BC Place and the bag check area is sold out, see if a nearby hotel can watch your stuff. There are a handful of nearby hotels to BC Place that you can see if they will hold onto your bags. Most hotels charge a small fee to hold onto your bags if they have room in their holding closet.
Parking and Food Information for a Vancouver Whitecaps FC Match
Parking rates vary on how far you are willing to walk to BC Place. With the venue being downtown Vancouver, fans will find numerous official and unofficial parking lots they can use to park their car before heading to the game. Check out the BC Place Parking guide for more details.
Fans can’t bring outside food or drinks into the Vancouver Whitecaps FC arena. However, like most places, BC Place honors fans’ requests to bring outside food for medical or religious reasons. If you need to bring specific food or drinks into the venue, put that into a clear plastic bag. Putting those items in a clear plastic bag adheres to the clear bag policy at the gate and helps the security team review the content more easily.
Otherwise, check out the BC Place food guide if you want to eat and drink directly at the stadium.
Tickets
Going to a Whitecaps FC match or BC Lions game is always a treat. Check out the listings below to pick up some affordable tickets for your next game or event!