Vancouver shines for Team Canada’s 1st game at BC Place: ‘This was the best’

Vancouver buzzed with excitement and patriotism as residents and World Cup visitors celebrated Team Canada's dominant 6-0 win at BC Place.

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Yesterday was amazing. I mean, as everybody knows, big win for Canada, six-nothing, BC Place completely sold out, 54,000 fans.

Don Chapman, Deputy Chief of the Vancouver Police Department, described the day as "amazing," noting the sold-out stadium filled with 54,000 fans. The FIFA Fan Fest also saw substantial attendance, nearing a sellout with 21,000 fans on site, while the Granville Entertainment District and other viewing locations across the city were packed.

Chapman reported that approximately 1,200 officers were deployed citywide, managing the festivities with only three ejections from BC Place and no arrests. He indicated that minor adjustments to policing deployment might occur for Canada's next game, but no major changes are anticipated.

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We had our fan fest pretty much at a sellout as well; I think at one point with 21,000 fans on site there, another 40,000 for the totality of the game. The Granville Entertainment District was busy as well as viewing sites all around the city. All in all, great day, great deployment. I think everybody had a great time.

Attendees Dallas Nicholls and Nahoa Kahakauwila, who were at BC Place, described the atmosphere as electric and "insane." Nicholls shared, "I've never felt so patriotic," recalling the pre-game march where streets were "flooded with red." Kahakauwila emphasized the historical significance of the win for Canada.

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I’ve never felt so patriotic.

Murray Saunders, general manager of the Shark Club, called the energy "absolute insanity" and "one of the best energies" he has experienced, even surpassing events like the Olympics or Grey Cup. The venue served over 1,200 customers before the 3 p.m. kick-off, with significant food and beverage sales, noting that this match's energy rivaled that of the Grey Cup.

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It was pretty cool that we did the march before and the streets were just flooded with red and everyone was just chanting. Like, the energy was just insane and inside the stadium was tenfold more. It was insane.