Dates: August 31
Locations: Royal Athletic Park, Central Park
Hours: noon-8 p.m.
Touchdown Pacific will see the BC Lions play host to the Ottawa REDBLACKS on Saturday, August 31 at Royal Athletic Park, which has been expanded to welcome more than 14,000 fans.
Hosting Touchdown Pacific is an exciting opportunity for Victoria, bringing national attention and showcasing our city as a premier destination for major sporting events. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we host this significant event.
In addition to the game, there will be a BC Lions Backyard Watch Party at Central Park where fans can catch the game on a big screen while enjoying the gameday atmosphere, plus food, drinks and entertainment for the whole family. This is a ticketed event – those with Touchdown Pacific tickets will be granted entrance. Those without a game ticket can attend for $25.
Please contact the BC Lions directly for any event-related questions.
Arrive Early
Due to the scale of this event and the number of attendees, fans are encouraged to plan ahead and arrive early at Royal Athletic Park.
Modes of Transportation
Attendees are encouraged to consider the full range of transportation options available to and from the event: walk/roll, cycle, taxi, ride-share, private vehicle and bus.
A free bike valet will be open at the tennis courts in Central Park (one block from the stadium) for this event—1,000 spots.
Drop off Zone
The Southbound Lane on Cook Street next to Royal Athletic Park is designated as a Drop Off Zone for attendees arriving by vehicle.
BC Transit
There are multiple bus routes with stops on Quadra Street and Cook Street, and others that use Blanshard Street, Douglas Street, Bay Street and Pandora Avenue within a 10-minute walk to Royal Athletic Park. The planned street closures do not impact existing bus routes. Please use BC Transit’s App ‘UMO’ for further information.
Park and Ride Shuttle
The City of Victoria is providing free park and ride shuttle services for ticket holders. Attendees can park in one of the 490 stalls at 4000 Seymour Place and ride the bus to the Save-On-Foods-Memorial Centre (SOFMC) at 1925 Blanshard Street, which is one block from Royal Athletic Park. The shuttle leaves every 15 minutes between the hours listed below.
Seymour Place to SOFMC 1:30-4 p.m.
SOFMC to Seymour Place 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Road Closures and Traffic Impacts
To ensure the safety of people moving through the area, there will be road closures in the vicinity of Royal Athletic Park and Central Park.
- Pembroke Street from Quadra to Vancouver (local traffic only) on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 6 a.m. to Sunday, Sept. 1 at 9 a.m.
- Pembroke Street from Vancouver to Cook (closed eastbound only) on Thursday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. to Sunday, Sept. 1 at 6 a.m.
- Caledonia Avenue from Cook to Quadra (closed westbound only) periodically from 2-8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31
- Green Street from Quadra to Vancouver (local traffic only) on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 6 a.m. to Sunday, Sept. 1 at 6 a.m.
- Vancouver Street from Caledonia to Pembroke (closed to vehicles and bikes) on Wednesday, Aug. 28 to Tuesday, Sept. 3 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Vancouver Street from Pembroke to Queens (local traffic only) on Saturday, Aug. 31 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Princess Avenue from Cook to Vancouver (local traffic only) on Saturday, Aug. 31 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Parking Impacts
Temporary parking restrictions will be in place on streets surrounding Royal Athletic Park. Please pay attention to signage and avoid parking in restricted areas to prevent fines or towing. Please use alternative parking options or public transportation where possible.
- Pembroke Street: Eastbound curbside parking removed periodically from Aug. 12 to Sept. 12
- Cook Street: Southbound curbside parking removed for event drop-off/loading zone on Saturday, Aug. 31 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Vancouver Street: Southbound curbside parking removed from Caledonia to Queens on Saturday, Aug. 31 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre
Please note that the Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre will be closing early at 11 a.m. on Aug. 31 to accommodate event preparations and ensure public safety. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Stadium Access Points
There are six gates for access to the stadium:
- Gate 1 Vancouver Pembroke Corner – will provide access for the majority of tailgate fans entering the Party Zone and North Temp Stands
- Gate 2 Green Street – will provide access to Party Zone fans only
- Gate 3 Vancouver Caledonia – will provide access to anyone with a ticket on the south side
- Gate 4 Main Entrance – will provide access to anyone with a ticket on the south side
- VIP Gate Cook Caledonia – is the main entrance for VIP ticket holders
- Gate 5 Cook Pembroke – will provide access to VIP ticket holders or anyone in the north temporary stands
