The B.C. Lions football team is making a temporary move to the Okanagan next season as their Vancouver home gets ready for the global soccer spotlight. With B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver being prepared for the 2025 FIFA World Cup, the Canadian Football League team will host two regular-season games at Kelowna's Apple Bowl.
Historic Games in the Okanagan
The Lions have scheduled two crucial Western Division matchups in Kelowna during the summer of 2025. The team will face the Calgary Stampeders on June 27, followed by a game against the Edmonton Elks on July 4. Both contests will take place at the Apple Bowl, which normally serves as home to the Okanagan Sun of the Canadian Junior Football League.
To accommodate the professional football games, the stadium will undergo significant expansion. The current capacity will be increased to approximately 17,500 seats for these two special events, ensuring plenty of fans can witness CFL action in the Interior region.
FIFA World Cup Displacement
The temporary relocation is necessary because B.C. Place will host seven FIFA World Cup matches between June and July 2025. The Vancouver venue will see significant action during the global soccer tournament, including Canada's group stage matches on June 18 and June 24, plus knockout round games on July 2 and July 7.
The World Cup preparation requires FIFA to take control of the stadium 30 days before the first match, making it unavailable for the Lions' early season schedule. The Toronto Argonauts face similar displacement, with their home games moving to stadiums in Hamilton, Regina, and Winnipeg during the tournament.
Community Enthusiasm and Economic Impact
Lions team president Duane Vienneau expressed excitement about the Kelowna games, noting that the region has long been "a hotbed for great Lions fans." He promised that the events would have a "mini-Grey Cup Festival type of feel" with celebrations extending beyond the games themselves.
British Columbia-born quarterback Nathan Rourke also shared his enthusiasm for the unique opportunity. "As a proud British Columbia-born citizen, I can't wait to lead the Lions into another historic CFL venture in our province," Rourke stated. He emphasized that playing in Kelowna provides "a great opportunity for our team to jell" while connecting with fans throughout the region.
The CFL is scheduled to release its complete 2025 regular season schedule on December 9, providing fans with full details of all matchups and venues.
