THE SCENE

Like any major city, Vancouver is on most major concert producer's maps. Inevitably, a North American tour usually includes one, if not two dates on the West Coast - even more, sometimes since the construction of Victoria's Save On Foods Memorial Centre just a 2.5 hour ferry ride away on Vancouver Island. For decades, Vancouver has enjoyed some of the most epic shows this continent has seen, providing some of the biggest and most electric crowds. Bands like playing this town - it's a fact. And these are the super-venues that attract them...

THE ESSENTIAL VENUES

BC Place Stadium

BC Place Stadium by Mike

777 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver BC, V6B 4Y8 tel: (604) 661-3626

Practically on the shores of False Creek, BC Place is 60,000-seat stadium nestled against the city skyline. It has witnessed some of the most memorable moments in regional and international sport. It has also been the venue of some of British Columbia's largest consumer and trade shows including favourites, the BC Home and Garden Show, the Pacific International Auto Show and the Vancouver International Boat Show. And despite it's mammoth proportions, the stadium can transform into concert bowl within just a few hours... From supergroups like AC/DC and The Rolling Stones to Madonna, the Queens of Pop herself, BC Place has been, and will continue to be, Vancouver's largest musical venue

General Motors Place

800 Griffiths Way, Vancouver, BC, V6B 6G1 tel: (604) 899-7400

First and foremost, General Motors Place or GM Place, is home to the beloved local National Hockey League (NHL) team, the Vancouver Canucks. But when the local heroes aren't slapping pucks in at 'The Garage' (as the fans have coined the venue), GM Place remains busy. With a capacity nearing 20,000, it stands as one of the premier sports and entertainment facilities in North America, serving regularly as a venue for world-class musical events such as Ozzy Osborne, Kanye West, Oasis and The Police and has enjoyed various high-profile visitors including the Dalai Lama, Queen Elizabeth and Bill Clinton.

Pacific Coliseum

2901 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5K 5J1 tel: (604) 253-2311

The Hastings Park venue at the grounds of the Pacific National Exhibition was once home to the Vancouver Canucks but now houses the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League (WHL). A long-time institution on the Vancouver entertainment scene, it has witnessed numerous events including circuses, ice shows, basketball games, boxing bouts and assemblies. On a regular basis, this venue hosts large concerts such as John Mayer, Maroon 5 and Fall Out Boy, accommodating 15,713 in permanent seating with 2,000 floor seats.

The boys rock by Jennifer Stoddart

Thunderbird Stadium

6066 Stadium Road, Vancouver, BC tel (604) 822-2211

Located on the University Endowment Lands at the University of British Columbia, Thunderbird Stadium is primarily home to the UBC Thunderbirds soccer and football teams. This scenic outdoor venue with its aboriginal architectural theme is built in a natural amphitheatre, making it an ideal location for summer concerts and music festivals such as Radiohead, Jack Johnson, Pennywise and the Vans Warped Tour. The venue also includes supporting facilities, playing fields and bleachers.