Snoop Dogg at the B.C. Lions: What to know about security, set times, and more

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You may be Young, Wild and Free, but if you try to light up a joint for Snoop Dogg, B.C. Place stadium security will tell you to Drop it Like it’s Hot, and escort you out of the building while lecturing you on making Bad Decisions.

In short, if the roof is open for the B.C. Lions’ home-opener and pre-game concert on June 7, it won’t be to let the smoke out.

“That will be a weather decision, not a ventilation decision,” B.C. Place general manager Chris May said with a chuckle. “As long as it’s nice weather, the decision is up to (the Lions), but I’m sure if it’s a beautiful day, that it’ll be open.

“As much as I would love to be able to say yes, we are a completely non-smoking, non-vaping venue, so that is not allowed,” he added, referring to the chronic hopefuls in the crowd.

While those weed hopes have been snuffed out, there’s an alternative for the Snoop hardcores: Gin and Juice.

“We have a Dillon’s gin bar. It’s in Section 213, and that bar will be a gin and juice bar for the game,” said May. “They’re going to have three different gin and juices — a classic Dillon’s gin and OJ; a Gin and Juicy, which is Dillon’s gin with tangerine, mint and tonic; and then they’re going to have a Gin and Juicier, which is a Dillon’s gin with pineapple, orange guava and a splash of lime.”

The perfect pairing for it will be The Dogfather, a bacon-wrapped, all-beef hotdog, with hot honey aioli, and pineapple, mango and jalapeño salsa.

NEXT GAME

Edmonton Elks at B.C. Lions
Saturday, June 7, 7 p.m.
TV: TSN. Radio: AM730

Pregame concert 5:45, Doors open 4:45

The Lions’ annual pre-game concerts, a tradition that started after Amar Doman purchased the team in 2021, have grown in popularity every year. One Republic started the trend, followed by LL Cool and 50 Cent in the following seasons, with the crowds increasing including last year’s capacity crowd of 53,788 for 50 and the Calgary Stampeders game. Tickets reached the 50,000-sold threshold on Friday, a week out from the game.

May had three words for those planning to attend next week’s game.

“Show. Up. Early,” he said. “We have seen, actually, over the past seasons, people arriving closer and closer to game time overall. The (best) way to get in quickly is to show up right at doors (open) time and get in the building. Doors open at 4:45 p.m., Snoop’s supposed to be on at 5:45; do not show up at 5:30 thinking that there’s going to be no line and you’re going to be able to walk straight in. Show up early.

“With the incredible job that (owner) Amar (Doman) and (president) Dwayne Vienneau have done with his team around this opening game, it’s really becoming an event. And that brings with it, every year, a whole new demographic of people that may not come to regular Lions games or be used to things and how it works here.”

Another major trip-up for new attendees to B.C. Place: the bag policy.

Opaque bags larger than 6.5 by 8.5 inches (16 by 21 centimetres) aren’t permitted, and clear plastic bags can’t be bigger than 12 x 12 x 6 (30 x 30 x 15 cm). Diaper bags and medically necessary items are exempted from this rule. But leave the purses, backpacks, camera bags and rolling luggage at home. Same for selfie sticks, vuvuzelas and tripods.

Further details can be found on the B.C. Place website by clicking here.

Snoop specials at B.C. Place

Drinks: Dillon’s Bar, Section 213

Gin & Juice — $10.75: The Classic — Dillon’s Gin & Orange Juice

Gin & Juicy — $12.75: A Refreshing Twist — Dillon’s Gin, Tangerine, Mint, Tonic

Gin & Juicier — $12.75: Tropical Flavours — Dillon’s Gin, Pineapple, Orange, Guava, Splash of Lime

Food: Dawson Deluxe, Section 244

The Dogfather — $17.25: Bacon wrapped foot-long all-beef wiener, hot honey aioli, pineapple, mango and jalapeño salsa

Food: Beast on Fire, Section 217

Prime Rib Sundae — $23: Sliced Prime Rib, mashed potato, crispy onions, red wine demi, Yorkshire pudding

The stadium has had some massive crowds in recent years, the most recent being the 53,387 who showed up to see Lionel Messi and Inter Miami play the Vancouver Whitecaps on April 25. That game, from a logistics standpoint, went smoothly. Not so much for the Argentine superstar and his team, which lost the game 2-0.

“When we look back at our last year to 12 months, we’ve had more sold-out stadium events and large crowds than we’ve ever had before,” said May. “And our team is on it. We’re not perfect, and at every event, we try to get better and provide a better experience and a smoother experience.

“We didn’t do anything substantially different for Messi; there were a few precautions taken because of his personal profile and the security of the team, but we didn’t change, really, how we operated. We didn’t change how we did bag checks. We didn’t change how the gates operated. We generally did keep that the same.

“I will say that I think we may be the only stadium that Messi has played out of in North America where there wasn’t an attempt of someone to get on the field. That’s saying something.”

Going to a B.C. Lions game in 2025? Here’s what you need to know

No drama. No pressure. No problem.

This year, the B.C. Lions get to focus strictly on football.

The quarterback carousel that spun the locker-room out of control last year is consigned to history. Vernon Adams Jr. has found a new home with the Calgary Stampeders, and Nathan Rourke has got a full off-season and training camp under his belt, and comes into 2025 leading a united locker-room.

There’s no championship game pressure, with the Grey Cup in Winnipeg this year. The pressure’s on the Blue Bombers — after five straight trips to the big game, they’ve lost the past three.

No Touchdown Pacific or “home” game played in a neutral site, either. Every home game is at B.C. Place. Here’s what you need to know about the Leos this year:

How do I get to B.C. Place?

The stadium is right smack downtown at 777 Pacific Blvd. There are parking garage options off of Expo Blvd and Beatty St., but the Stadium-Chinatown Skytrain stop lets you off just steps from the gates. There is also a bike valet available for those wanting to pedal to the game and leave their bicycle in safety.

Pro tip for getting in the building: use Gate G, which is down the stairs to the right of Gate H off of Terry Fox Plaza.

When are the 2025 home games and what are the themes?

The Doggfather: Saturday, June 7, vs. Edmonton, 7 p.m.

The season kicks off with the annual pre-game concert, this time from legendary rapper Snoop Dogg. Tickets have already cracked the 50,000 mark, and the 50/50 is also already a guaranteed $150,000. Come early, as doors open at 4:45.

Summer Camp: Saturday, June 21 vs. Winnipeg, 4 p.m.

Here’s the best way to celebrate the end of the school year and kick off summer vacation. There will be “camping-style” pre-game festivities, a chance to cheer on Grade 7 and Grade 12 grads at a halftime graduation walk, and the new Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? show.

Watermelon Smash: Saturday, July 19,  vs. Saskatchewan, 4 p.m

Games with the Roughriders are always one of the most well-attended of the year. And this year the Lions are bringing in even more watermelons for the pregame fruit smashing. The event provides money for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, and the leftover watermelons go to the B.C. Farmers Association to be used as livestock feed.

Family Traditions: Sunday, July 27, vs. Hamilton, 4 p.m.

“Everyone’s looking for the thrill, but what’s real is family.” CFL games are fast, furious and all about family. This game celebrates the generations of Lions fans who together share their love for the great CFL and Lions tradition.

Show N Shine: Saturday, Aug 16, vs. Montreal, 4 p.m.

There will be 350 classic cars, super cars and B.C. Lions Hot Wheels cars — 7,500 of the die-cast toys going first through the gates — in a massive show and shine in front of B.C. Place. Game tickets will double as admission into the PNE.

Campus Clash: Friday, Sept. 12,  vs. Ottawa, 7 p.m.

Time to show your college pride; all attendees are encouraged to represent their alma mater by wearing their school sweaters or colours and/or sitting in designated student sections.

Orange Shirt Day Game: Friday, Sept 26,  vs. Toronto, 7 p.m.

The Lions have been long-time partners of the First Nations, and for the fifth straight year, they will honour Canada’s National Day For Truth and Reconciliation. It includes the Orange Shirt giveaway, Indigenous marketplace featuring authentic arts, crafts, and food; and live musical entertainment by Indigenous artists.

The Gravy Bowl: Saturday, Oct. 4, vs. Calgary, 4 p.m.

The fall tradition continues and for the third straight year fans will be greeted with a large beer garden and free(!) Thanksgiving turkey carvings, topped off with the classic pie-eating contest.

Also of note it’s the return of Vernon Adams Jr. to B.C. Place, after being traded to the Stampeders in the off-season.

Wild Wild West: Friday Oct. 17,  vs. Edmonton, 7:30 p.m.

The Lions wrap  up their home schedule with a second battle against the Elks. The West Division is always wild, and this game will celebrate country and western culture. There will be special performances by the Uproar Dance Team, a mechanical bull on the concourse, a lasso performer and, for the first time, a country music halftime show.

How much are B.C. Lions tickets and are there any special deals?

There are options available for just about any budget. Single-game tickets are as low as $17 plus fees and taxes, while season-ticket packages range from $200 for the nine home games, all the way to $2,000 for premium field-side seats.

Here are some of the best offerings the Lions have:

The White Spot Family Pak: A family of four gets four game tickets and a White Spot gift card worth $50 for $99 dollars before taxes and fees. That’s a screaming deal, possibly the best in town.

The Quarterback Club: One adult season ticket, one youth season ticket, all nine home games for $200.

The Wings Express: Love chicken wings? Love football? Hate driving? This is for you. The Lions have teamed up with Wings Express to bus fans to and from the six weekend home games. Participating Wings locations are in Abbotsford, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Langley, Port Moody, Richmond, Surrey and Tsawwassen, for games June 7 (against Edmonton), June 21 (Winnipeg), July 19 (Saskatchewan), July 27 (Hamilton), Aug. 16 (Montreal) and Oct. 4 (Calgary).

Each restaurant will have different specials and pricing, with charter buses arriving at B.C. Place 45 minutes before game time, and leaving 30 minutes after the game to return to the pickup point.

Flexibility options: The Lions have three-game packs, half-season season ticket packages, and flex packs. The latter gives 10 individual tickets which can be used over a minimum of two games, or spread out over all nine home games.

Where is the best place to sit at a B.C. Lions game?

Unsure of the best place to book your seats at B.C. Place?

The best place for those with kids, young or old, is in the Family Zone: the upper end zone area between Sections 246-251. There are family washrooms, breastfeeding pods, and that’s where the kids club is.

Fanatics want to be behind the benches close to the action, and that’s between Sections 207 and 213. The closer to field level, the better. For those wanting to harass the visiting team, Sections 216-219 border their bench.

Due to construction at B.C. Place, there is no standing room area this season.

What can I eat at a B.C. Lions game?

Let’s start with the suds, first.

• Beer Express (Coors, Molson, Heineken, Granville Island, Hop Valley) — Sections 208, 213, 219, 240, 401, 415, 442, and 454)

• The Thirsty Pigeon (specialty beer concession) — Sections 234 and  248)

On to the food …

• Dawson’s Hot Dogs — Sections 201, 214, 227, 233, and 241

This is the place to snag the value package, including the $7.50 kids meal. There’s also a $5 menu, including beer, hot dogs nachos and popcorn.

• Dawson’s Deluxe gourmet hot dogs — Section 244

• Beast on Fire grill — Sections 217 and 236

• Beast Unleashed grill — Section 230

• Bombay South Asian Kitchen — Section 220

• Boom Kitchen bowls — Section 210

• Pizza Pizza — Sections 222 and 249

• Lionsgate Grill (burgers and tenders) — Sections 215, 228, 242, and 254

• Seoul Food Korean Fried Chicken — Section 206

• Snack Shack self serve — Section 212

• The Mac Bar (Mac & Cheese) — Section 207

• The Poutinerie — Sections 212 and 239