The B.C. Sports Hall of Fame may find a temporary home at Vancouver City Hall after being displaced from its B.C. Place location due to the World Cup. Vancouver city council voted unanimously Tuesday to explore the possibility of housing the museum as a rent-free pop-up exhibition in the public foyer of Vancouver City Hall for the duration of the tournament.
Council Motion Details
The motion, put forward by Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung, directs city staff to meet with the museum to discuss operational needs such as exhibit transportation, installation, security, staffing, and accessibility. It also requests the mayor to speak with Tourism Minister Anne Kang to seek funding to cover the temporary relocation and operation.
Background on Displacement
The museum, which showcases iconic artifacts from B.C.'s sports history—including racing legend Greg Moore and Terry Fox—was packed up and moved out last week to make way for a media centre ahead of the international soccer tournament's local kickoff on June 13. Located inside B.C. Place, the Hall of Fame was required to shut down for two months starting May 14 as part of FIFA taking over control of the building for the tournament. This shutdown leaves six people without work for the duration of the tournament.
Previously, the hall had been closed on game days when the stadium hosted the 2015 Women's World Cup but was otherwise open during the tournament. During those closures, FIFA had paid the hall a day rate rental, but no such financial arrangement was made for this summer's tournament.
Next Steps
City council's approval marks the first step in a process that could see the Hall of Fame temporarily housed at city hall. Further discussions will focus on logistics and funding to ensure the museum's artifacts are safely displayed and accessible to the public during the World Cup period. More details are expected as staff report back on the feasibility of the pop-up exhibition.
