This latest incarnation of BC Place has been described as a new architectural signature for our city. There will be 36 of these giant masts surrounding BC Place which will support cables to its new retractable roof. Each mast is 14 storeys high and weighs about 109 tonnes. The cables have a diameter of 90 mm and will support 76,000 square metres of retractable roof fabric. The opening of the retractable portion of the roof will span the entire playing field (100 m long and 85 m wide), and the permanent roof will cover all the seats. The new retractable roof will be the largest and strongest of its kind in the world.
The stadium itself will be renovated along with seismic upgrades allowing it to function as an emergency shelter. And the adjoining property just west of the stadium will feature 2 new hotels as well as a new gaming facility.

The cost of the roof itself is now estimated at $465 million. Owned by BC Pavilion Corporation, a provincial crown corporation, the government is very positive about the economic impact the whole project will have on the city. It will create a significant amount of employment both before and after construction and create additional tourism from both the stadium which will operate longer in the summer and the new gaming facility. There are many energy saving factors to the new roof and the overall lifespan of BC Place will be extended for an additional 40 years.

The stadium will be home to the BC Lions and Whitecaps and host the 2011 Grey Cup. They Lions and Whitecaps will hopefully move in next summer but at the moment the date is still up in the Air!