Latest news with #RogersArena
Vancouver Sun
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Vancouver has been pre-season perfection for the Toronto Raptors
Vancouver is pining for an NBA team. And if the Toronto Raptors were smart, they'd pull up stakes and relocate to the West Coast, the best coast. Why? Well, since 2010, the Raptors have played in Vancouver seven times — and won every single game. They took down the 2016 Golden State Warriors, who would go on to win their fifth dynasty-clinching league title. They beat Steve Nash AND Vince Carter in 2010, back when the Garage, a.k.a. GM Place, had just changed its name to Rogers Arena . They toppled Kings (2023, 2014) and Lob City Clippers (2015), and snuffed out the Blazers (2018). Next up: the Denver Nuggets. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Sure, all those games were pre-season — like the Oct. 6 date at Rogers Arena against Canadian Jamal Murray and perennial MVP contender Nikola Jokić — but a win is a win. Tickets for the game will go on sale Aug. 27. Fans can register their interest in tickets and gain access to exclusive presale information by visiting 'This will be the seventh time we've started our year with a pre-season game in Vancouver and we're really excited to be back to tip off 2025-26,' said Raptors general manager Bobby Webster, whose team returns to Vancouver for the first time since 2023. 'We love the vibe, the city, the arena and especially the fans. Part of the experience is seeing the players on our young team realize how much support the Raptors have across Canada. It's awesome — the realization that they play for a country, not just a city, is an important moment. It's also really fun. We're looking forward to being back.' While Toronto held training camp in Vancouver in 2023, this time it will be at the University of Calgary for the first time in team history, starting Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at Jack Simpson Gym. All those sessions are closed to the public, but the Raptors will hold a practice open to the public on Oct. 3. The game is part of the Canada Series, featuring NBA pre-season games in Canada, which officially got its name in 2012. But the NBA has had exhibition games in Canada since 1990, when the Indiana Pacers played three games against the Bullets and Rockets in St. John's, Halifax and Kitchener. Murray, the Nuggets superlative shooting guard, wasn't born in Kitchener until seven years after that game. 'It's always an honour and a pleasure to get to return home to play basketball in Canada,' said Murray. 'I'm excited for the opportunity for myself and my team to face off against the Raptors in front of the basketball-hungry fans of Vancouver, it's going to be a lot of fun.' The Canada Series has seen 16 different teams playing 19 pre-season games — 14 of which featured the Raptors — in front of nearly 360,000 fans in six Canadian cities. Also part of the Canada Series was a 2019 game in Vancouver, where Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks downed freshly former Raptor Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers 102-87. This pre-season, the Raptors travel to face the Kings in Sacramento on Oct. 8, host the Boston Celtics on Oct. 10 at Scotiabank Arena and before visiting the Wizards in Washington on Oct. 12. Toronto hits the road again to take on the Celtics in Boston on Oct. 15, then close out the pre-season at home against the Brooklyn Nets on Oct. 17. The current roster features all-stars in Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, 2025 No. 9 overall pick Collin Murray-Boyles, and Canadians RJ Barrett and A.J. Lawson, whom have both represented Canada internationally.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Big names are skipping Vancouver on concert tours. Why?
Oliver Quezada attends upwards of 20 concerts a year. "I absolutely love listening to music live," he said. "Going to these concerts is just such a crazy experience because you grow with an album, you grow with an artist. And seeing it live is like, wow." But he's noticed a shift in the types of shows coming to B.C. Bigger artists, people who would play bigger arena shows, are skipping Vancouver. Lorde, Kendrick Lamar, Charli XCX, Lady Gaga, Burna Boy — the list goes on — have all overlooked Vancouver on their most recent tours. Even when Taylor Swift first announced Eras tour dates, Vancouver was initially left out. "For me personally, one of the big bummers was Kali Uchis with her 'Sincerely, Tour,'" Quezada said. When there are more than three million people in the Metro Vancouver area, and nearly six million provincewide, would-be concert-goers are left wondering why the city is getting the cold shoulder. Venues While there is growing concern about smaller venues for emerging artists in B.C., as more and more close up shop, it has the right stages for bigger acts. Pacific Coliseum in East Vancouver has more than 15,000 permanent seats and can add 2,000 seats on the floor. Rogers Arena has a capacity of up to 19,000 for concerts, according to Ticketmaster. Meanwhile, B.C. Place can seat up to 54,500 people. B.C. Place manager Chris May said more big concerts were coming to the stadium in recent years, but this year has been slow as they prepare for the FIFA World Cup in 2026. He said the venue is also mindful of how the tour cycle works. "When demand is high in Europe or Asia (as it is this year), North America often sees a surge the following year. That's already reflected in our 2026 and 2027 calendars." Expense One of the biggest reasons Vancouver is getting shunned by bigger artists is the cost, according to publicist and industry expert Eric Alper. "When consumers are paying more for groceries or rent, the artists are paying the exact same expenses," he said. That means more money on hotels, dining out, travel and event staffing. Even duty fees for bringing merch to sell in Canada can be pricey, Alper said. "These added costs are absolutely a deal breaker when it comes to artists deciding if they're gonna skip or play Canada." : Not to mention the exchange rate — most artists are looking to be paid in American dollars, which means, when the Canadian dollar is weak, the cost of putting on a show goes up for booking agents. As YVR Concerts founder Angela Vannatter pointed out, it's expensive for people who live there, too. "The cost of living in Vancouver is so high that buying a concert ticket ... is actually potentially even out of the question," she said. But that means it's also difficult to afford hotels and travel to other cities to see shows. Border crossing If the cost of travel is prohibitive for artists, you may be wondering, well, if they're playing in Seattle, it's not that difficult for them to get up to Vancouver for a show the next day. Think again, Alper said. He said there are complex visa requirements for artists every time they cross the border. Getting those visas can be expensive and time-consuming, and not worth it for the artist and their team. "Even though we are and claim to be a very, very friendly neighbour to the U.S., there's a lot of paperwork and there's a lot of added expenses on top of the usual fees of just trying to get over the border," Alper said. Border crossing might be difficult for concert-goers, too, Vannatter said, due to the tensions and uncertainty between Canada and the U.S. right now. "It's really upsetting as a fan." Support local musicians If your favourite international pop star isn't coming to an arena near you, consider seeing some local talent instead. "The one big benefit that I'm hoping [for] when there's a lack of American or U.K. artists coming here is that the Canadian music industry, all of us, will put more emphasis on Canadian artists," Alper said. Vannatter said there are lots of homegrown musicians who sound similar to big names. "Chances are, they're writing about an experience that you can relate to and understand. And having understanding amongst ourselves is the most important thing for community." Even Quezada, who loves a big show, has been trying to check out smaller gigs lately. "I've been having such a fun time, and it's definitely a different perspective on concerts," he said. But he's still feeling slighted by Kali Uchis. "The only thing is that these artists that I really do want to see are popular for a reason."
CBC
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Big names are skipping Vancouver on concert tours. Why?
Oliver Quezada attends upwards of 20 concerts a year. "I absolutely love listening to music live," he said. "Going to these concerts is just such a crazy experience because you grow with an album, you grow with an artist. And seeing it live is like, wow." But he's noticed a shift in the types of shows coming to B.C. Bigger artists, people who would play bigger arena shows, are skipping Vancouver. Lorde, Kendrick Lamar, Charlie XCX, Lady Gaga, Burna Boy — the list goes on — have all overlooked Vancouver on their most recent tours. Even when Taylor Swift first announced Eras tour dates, Vancouver was initially left out. "For me personally, one of the big bummers was Kali Uchis with her 'Sincerely, Tour,'" Quezada said. When there are more than three million people in the Metro Vancouver area, and nearly six million provincewide, would-be concert-goers are left wondering why the city is getting the cold shoulder. Venues While there is growing concern about smaller venues for emerging artists in B.C., as more and more close up shop, it has the right stages for bigger acts. Pacific Coliseum in East Vancouver has more than 15,000 permanent seats and can add 2,000 seats on the floor. Rogers Arena has a capacity of up to 19,000 for concerts, according to Ticketmaster. Meanwhile, B.C. Place can seat up to 54,500 people. B.C. Place manager Chris May said more big concerts were coming to the stadium in recent years, but this year has been slow as they prepare for the FIFA World Cup in 2026. He said the venue is also mindful of how the tour cycle works. "When demand is high in Europe or Asia (as it is this year), North America often sees a surge the following year. That's already reflected in our 2026 and 2027 calendars." Expense One of the biggest reasons Vancouver is getting shunned by bigger artists is the cost, according to publicist and industry expert Eric Alper. "When consumers are paying more for groceries or rent, the artists are paying the exact same expenses," he said. That means more money on hotels, dining out, travel and event staffing. Even duty fees for bringing merch to sell in Canada can be pricey, Alper said. "These added costs are absolutely a deal breaker when it comes to artists deciding if they're gonna skip or play Canada." WATCH | Cost, border crossings likely contribute to Vancouver being snubbed: Why some artists are skipping Vancouver on their latest tours 4 days ago Not to mention the exchange rate — most artists are looking to be paid in American dollars, which means, when the Canadian dollar is weak, the cost of putting on a show goes up for booking agents. As YVR Concerts founder Angela Vannatter pointed out, it's expensive for people who live there, too. "The cost of living in Vancouver is so high that buying a concert ticket ... is actually potentially even out of the question," she said. But that means it's also difficult to afford hotels and travel to other cities to see shows. Border crossing If the cost of travel is prohibitive for artists, you may be wondering, well, if they're playing in Seattle, it's not that difficult for them to get up to Vancouver for a show the next day. Think again, Alper said. He said there are complex visa requirements for artists every time they cross the border. Getting those visas can be expensive and time-consuming, and not worth it for the artist and their team. "Even though we are and claim to be a very, very friendly neighbour to the U.S., there's a lot of paperwork and there's a lot of added expenses on top of the usual fees of just trying to get over the border," Alper said. Border crossing might be difficult for concert-goers, too, Vannatter said, due to the tensions and uncertainty between Canada and the U.S. right now. "It's really upsetting as a fan." Support local musicians If your favourite international pop star isn't coming to an arena near you, consider seeing some local talent instead. "The one big benefit that I'm hoping [for] when there's a lack of American or U.K. artists coming here is that the Canadian music industry, all of us, will put more emphasis on Canadian artists," Alper said. Vannatter said there are lots of homegrown musicians who sound similar to big names. "Chances are, they're writing about an experience that you can relate to and understand. And having understanding amongst ourselves is the most important thing for community." Even Quezada, who loves a big show, has been trying to check out smaller gigs lately. "I've been having such a fun time, and it's definitely a different perspective on concerts," he said. But he's still feeling slighted by Kali Uchis.
CTV News
7 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Elliot Lake approves $343K more for Rogers Arena foundation fixes
Northern Ontario Watch Elliot Lake city council OKs revised Rogers Arena design after foundation issues delayed repairs. An additional $343,000 was approved to address unexpected foundation variations discovered during excavation.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Canucks announce 2025-26 pre-season schedule
The Vancouver Canucks have announced the dates for the team's 2025-26 pre-season schedule. The schedule features six games, all against Pacific Division opponents. The Canucks will play the Seattle Kraken, Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers twice each, both home and away. The first pre-season game is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 21 in Seattle. The Canucks will also play a pre-season game at the Abbotsford Centre for the fifth straight year. That game will be against the Flames on Wednesday, Sept. 24. Two games will be played at Rogers Arena, where Canucks fans will get a chance to see the new black seats installed over the summer, which were part of the third phase of the arena's $150-million revitalization plan. The Canucks' full pre-season schedule is: Sept. 21 — Canucks at Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena Sept. 24 — Canucks vs. Flames at Abbotsford Centre Sept. 26 — Canucks vs. Kraken at Rogers Arena Sept. 28 — Canucks at Oilers at Rogers Place Oct. 1 — Canucks at Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome Oct. 3 — Canucks vs. Oilers at Rogers Arena mraptis@ Canucks: Black seats are coming to Rogers Arena as upgrades announced Canucks: It's not money, term is big key in Thatcher Demko contract extension
