Empire Games info

[So Cal Lion]

For this seasons games I would like to inquire about where the best lodging spots would be for Empire Stadium games?

We're planning on attending one of the late season games in September and would like to get some local info on good pubs and hotels close to the stadium.

Really have enjoyed the BC Place experience at the Robson and want to know about shuttling down to Empire from there, if thats a realistic situation as well. What are the concensus thoughts here from the experts.

Thanks in advance....Cheers

[Hambone]

I guess it all depends on what turns your crank after a game So Cal Lion. If you're into a little bit of night life, or hitting a pub/restaurant then I don't think you'll be wanting to pitch your tent anywhere in moderately close proximity to Empire Stadium. Even back in the day when the Lions played at Empire and the Canucks called the Pacific Coliseum home there wasn't much for hospitality amenities; a motel here, maybe an older hotel (2 star or lower) there. You can probably count the number of pubs within a 10 block radius from Empire on one hand and might have a finger left over to flip at a fan of the opposition. I doubt many if any would be considered good sports pubs. I don't think anything has changed in that regard in the area since the Lions last played in Empire 28 years ago. For some reason I envision pubs in the area still using those old round beer parlour tables covered with the terri-cloth tops.

Other than a variety of small businesses along the Hastings strip and the PNE grounds themselves the area is predominantly an older residential area with most of the houses being at least 60 or 70 years old. Frankly I think a person would find it quite boring staying anywhere close to Empire unless they just wanted to go back to their room for a few beers before preparing to leave early the next day. You'd probably find yourself and your crew looking for a cab to head downtown. I think most football fans will find themselves either heading back downtown or dispersing back out to the 'burb they came from after the game is over. I'm sure the Lions are already working with Translink on some shuttle options which they will be making known as the season gets nearer. I'm guessing a cab from Empire back downtown would run around $20 tops. For sure I'll be staying in the downtown core when I come in for a game this year.

[Lions4ever]

would like to get some local info on good pubs and hotels close to the stadium.

If only such things existed!

Seriously, there`s next to nothing out there. I think there`s a Best Western on East Hastings that would be walking distance and a Holiday Inn Express at Hastings & Renfrew. The nearest pub is maybe Oscars on East Hastings at Boundary?

This is BC, where we're deeply afraid of drinking establishments, so make licences very hard to get and make them very scarce. Read here:

http://communities.canada.com/THEPROVIN ... -past.aspx

[B.C.FAN]

As mentioned above, the Holiday Inn Express and Best Western Exhibition Park are both within walking distance in different directions on East Hastings. The Best Western is just a block from the stadium. There are several restaurants around each, but if you're travelling this far to experience a game in Vancouver you're probably better off to stay downtown and absorb the cost of transportation and/or stadium parking.

[SammyGreene]

I concur with everything said above. As much as I am looking forward to Empire this season but the variety of restaurants, bars and hotels around BC Place can't be touched.

That said, when I was growing up and making our way to Empire via Surrey for Lions games, my parents would often take us to the Sheraton Villa in Burnaby for a pre-game dinner. It's right near Willington Ave. exit off of Hwy 1 and no more than a 10-minute cab ride from Empire. The hotel has changed ownership at least a couple of times since then.

It now is operated by Delta and has a casino. It's probably at least a 3-star hotel and closer to 4.

http://grandvillacasino.com/hotel/

With the Casino also comes great deals on food including a $9.99 brunch on weekends.
http://grandvillacasino.com/promotions/

[Hambone]

Just to follow up on some of the comments. I think part of the reason there is so little for amenities in the area of Empire is the surrounding demographics. It's an older residential area with likely an older population of families who for the most part have lived in the same house for years. Most are getting up there to where they'd be unlikely to frequent a pub of any type.

Sammy Greene refers to the Grand Villa which is a good hotel property with a decent sports pub plus the casino. I've stayed there a few times over the years and frequented the pub a few times as well and wouldn't hesitate to do so again. It's maybe a $10 cab ride to Empire tops. Like most such things in the area if there is a downside it's the location puts it almost on an island by itself. Access to it from Hwy 1 as easy as it gets. Again a person is pretty much confined to using the amenities within the hotel itself or they will be getting back into car or cab.

[orangegloves]

Everyone on here is right, there is nothing around the PNE grounds. If I remember correctly when ever I would do a broadcast with Kevin Hayes on the PNE grounds, for the Giants, or just the PNE in general, Kev and I would head off to a terrible "sports bar" in the basement of the holiday inn on Hastings, I think its called the press box. Across the street there is the Gourmet Castle if you have a craving for Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese under one roof. I would stay downtown. The only other option coming from this former North Shore boy, is just across the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge there are 2 options. The Holiday Inn North Vancouver, that has a decent bar in it. Home to a very young crowed on Friday and Saturday nights. And then there is the Lynnwood, unless your on an extreme budget, and want to figure out how you woke up still alive this is the place to stay. To only good thing is it is the only place on the North Shore to party until 2am

Stay downtown, and take a cab. Enjoy yourself in the city, there is nothing by the PNE. Although Hasting park is planning on some pre and post game activities.

[Lionheart]

Everyone on here is right, there is nothing around the PNE grounds.

C'mon. Lets not give a false info. How can you say that? If I was from out of town and reading that I would literally think Empire stadium was in the middle of the country. This visitor just may want to stay near the stadium if they could. There are hotel rooms within walking distance, there are restaurants within walking distance, and there are pubs within walking distance.

[Lions4ever]

Everyone on here is right, there is nothing around the PNE grounds.

C'mon. Lets not give a false info. How can you say that? If I was from out of town and reading that I would literally think Empire stadium was in the middle of the country. This visitor just may want to stay near the stadium if they could. There are hotel rooms within walking distance, there are restaurants within walking distance, and there are pubs within walking distance.

Who's giving false information? So Cal did not ask about restaurants. He or she only asked about hotels & good pubs. The correct hotel info was given and can you name the pubs in the area. I identified Oscars, what else is there? Instead of making a post to lecture folks, why not offer useful information?

The fact is, there is next to boom all in the area. That is an absolute fact. I live on Vancouver Island but I own a place downtown (Melville & Bute). A couple of years ago we were attending a concert at the Coliseum and were looking for the pre-party. There was none. There's nothing out there. It may as well be the middle of nowhere. Sorry, but that's the reality.

[David]

To be fair, while the area's not exactly crawling with pubs and bars by any stretch of the imagination, it's not totally devoid of them either. For example, The Press Box at the corner of Hastings and Renfrew is sure to be hopping pre and post game.

link here

Depending on your budget So Cal, I would definitely stay downtown and either cab it to Empire, or take a bus. From, say, a landmark like the Harbour Centre (the roughly 500' glass lookout tower at Hastings and Richards in the heart of downtown) it shouldn't take more than 20 mins by bus, 15 by cab. I am willing to bet that the Lions will organize a shuttle bus from somewhere downtown for the upcoming football season. You may want to call them @ (604)930-5466 to find out.

I live very close to downtown, so I can recommend a lot of bars and restaurants to fit any budget. PM me if you like.

DH

[orangegloves]

I don't think we BC Lions fans realize how good we have it here in Vancouver. While, I now live in Toronto I always wear orange. I have seen games in every CFL city now, and without sounding too biased BC Place and the Lions do the best job at game day. Just about every other CFL stadium with the exception of TO, is located in residential area's. Calgary's is on the U of C campus, but still there are no real places to eat around the stadium. Winnipeg is on the outskirts of town and there are a couple of chain restaurants across the street. Nothing is better than the choices that Vancouver has!
This year will be interesting I am interested to see if people are going to be tailgating in the PNE parking lot, and Hastings Park has said it will be holding pre and post game activities.
Now while I said in a previous post there is nothing around the PNE grounds, I wasn't trying to mislead our friend who is coming to enjoy a game I was trying to help him/her so that he/she doesn't base their entire trip around something that just isn't there. There just really isn't much of anything! So my advice, stay downtown take a cab go to the Press Box for a pre game meal, and a pop with other Lions fans, or stay tuned here I'm sure all the guys on here will be keeping everyone informed about tailgating activities. The most important this? Enjoy the game and the city!

[Lionheart]

Who's giving false information?

Orangegloves did. Don't get so offended, all I said was that there WAS indeed beds, pubs and eateries in the area.

C'mon, the Canucks won cheer up

Also the track will be opening up for Lions games and will be doing some MAJOR stuff for the games. Live music, BEER TENTS, food, etc.. and well of course horses. The team will be there too at the track. For those out of towners the track is literally only on the other side of a parking lot away.

Lecture over

Outdoor football in the summer, finishing my gin'n'tonic whilst going clankety clankety up the old roller coaster pre game, and now the smell of smokies and horse poo. Puts a smile on my face I tell ya.

[Hambone]

Orangegloves did. Don't get so offended, all I said was that there WAS indeed beds, pubs and eateries in the area.

C'mon, the Canucks won cheer up

Also the track will be opening up for Lions games and will be doing some MAJOR stuff for the games. Live music, BEER TENTS, food, etc.. and well of course horses. The team will be there too at the track. For those out of towners the track is literally only on the other side of a parking lot away.

In a literal sense saying there is nothing is indeed false. Figuratively speaking it's very accurate. Go 1 km in any direction from Empire and you find 2 pubs and 2 hotels and one horse track. Within the same distance from Terry Fox Plaza and you can be into Yaletown, Granville entertainment district, Gastown and all places in between. There's more amenities within a block and a half of BC Place than there are within 2 kilometres of Empire.

No doubt the Lions are working hard on the things you talk about and Hastings Park could well be the focal point for that. Horse racing has been in decline as a sport globally over the past several years so you can bet Hastings Park will welcome the opportunity to partner up with the Lions in any way they can. When we used to travel into town back in the old Empire days going to Exhibition Park, as it was known then, to lay a couple of bets on some races was always an enjoyable pre-game experience. For the out-of-towner the thing to do would be stay downtown but get out to Empire a few hours early to take in the ponies and whatever else will no doubt be well-organized.

[B.C.FAN]

The racetrack also has a gaming floor with 600 slot machines and a restaurant and bar.

And if you would prefer to make a family day, capped with football, the Playland amusement park and wooden Coaster - one of the best in North America - are right beside the stadium.

The entertainment options in the immediate area around Empire are quite varied. My vote would still be to stay downtown but get to the park early and sample some of the related options.

[CatsEyes]

For this seasons games I would like to inquire about where the best lodging spots would be for Empire Stadium games?

We're planning on attending one of the late season games in September and would like to get some local info on good pubs and hotels close to the stadium.

Really have enjoyed the BC Place experience at the Robson and want to know about shuttling down to Empire from there, if thats a realistic situation as well. What are the concensus thoughts here from the experts.

Thanks in advance....Cheers

Be great to see you back out this way again, Coach!