The Ultimate Guide to Vancouver’s Sports Teams

Canucks

National Hockey League

THE VENUE: Rogers Arena.

THE RUNDOWN: There’s nothing more Vancouver than spending an evening gently heckling our beloved three-time almost Stanley Cup champions at their home stadium.

MEMORIZE THIS CHANT: “Go Canucks Go!” will do the trick.

STAR PLAYERS: Know your three Petterssons: Elias (D-petey, rookie defenceman), another Elias (EP40, centre) and Marcus (The Dragon, defence).

ESSENTIAL EATS: Curry from Vij’s (Vancouver’s own Michelin-bibbed Indian restaurant), “perogy dog,” deluxe nachos. Or, do as the locals do and grab a hotdog at the nearby Costco before the game.

BLOOD FEUD: Our annoyingly talented Albertan neighbours, the Edmonton Oilers.

WEAR THIS: Blue, green and white. Or the iconic 1990s black and orange jersey (a.k.a. the “Flying Skate” or “Plate of Spaghetti”).

TAKE NOTE: Arrive 20 minutes early to watch warm-ups at the glass and maybe catch a puck.

MASCOT: Fin, the lovable orca, is known for “chomping” fans’ heads.

TICKETS: $55 to $200+, canucks.com

Goldeneyes

Professional Women’s Hockey League

THE VENUE: Pacific Coliseum.

THE RUNDOWN: Named for a fiercely territorial duck, our new women’s hockey team perfectly embodies the underdog energy of East Vancouver. The trip from downtown is worth it for the unique, family-friendly activities, affordable tickets and elite gameplay.

MEMORIZE THIS CHANT: Practice your best duck impression for “Quack! Quack! Quack attack! No retreat, no turning back!”

STAR PLAYERS: Captain Sarah Nurse is a three-time Olympian (and style icon). Surrey’s Jenn Gardiner brings hometown pride.

ESSENTIAL EATS:$5 beers (including Parallel 49’s iconic Trash Panda), cotton candy and burgers from B.C. chain Triple O’s.

BLOOD FEUD: The team is so new that anyone has the potential to be their great future nemesis: our money is on the Seattle Torrent.

WEAR THIS: Don your best blue.

TAKE NOTE: This historic East Van arena inspires nostalgia among locals who remember crushing mini doughnuts and rides at the adjacent amusement park.

MASCOT: No big plush cheerleader has been introduced yet. (Does this mean auditions are open?)

TICKETS: Starting from $37, thepwhl.com

Whitecaps

Major League Soccer

THE VENUE: BC Place.

THE RUNDOWN: If you want a reason to swoon and/or ugly-cry in public, spend an evening watching our unreasonably attractive men’s soccer team. After nearly winning two championships in 2025, 2026 expectations for drama and glory are high.

MEMORIZE THIS CHANT: “Boundary Road” (sung to “Take Me Home, Country Roads”) celebrates the strip of pavement separating Vancouver from Burnaby, the team’s former home.

STAR PLAYERS: We’re still recovering from “Müllermania” after signing the extremely charming German legend Thomas Müller in 2025.

ESSENTIAL EATS: The secret $5 menu at Dawson’s Hot Dogs (sections 201/227) and Korean fried chicken at 203.

BLOOD FEUD: Emotions run high when the Whitecaps battle the Seattle Sounders or Portland Timbers for the Cascadia Cup.

WEAR THIS: The Southsiders are the Whitecaps’ loud-and-proud superfans—so passionate that they have their own merch.

TAKE NOTE: “March to the Match” from Dublin Calling on Granville and Smithe an hour before kickoff. Pre-game at Party-on-the-Plaza for games and giveaways.

MASCOT: “Spike” is a lovable belted kingfisher known, like the Canucks’ Fin, for pretending to eat children.

TICKETS: Starting from $44, whitecapsfc.com

The Rise

Northern Super League

THE PLACE: Swangard Stadium (Burnaby)

THE RUNDOWN: Vancouver’s incredibly chic women’s soccer team serves excellence on and off the field with Chappell Roan chants, rotating food trucks and themed games. Though they rep Vancouver, they’re Burnaby-born and based.

MEMORIZE THIS CHANT: The Crow Collective leads 12-plus chants. Master “Hot to Go!” Chappell Roan-style first.

STAR PLAYER: Burnaby legend Christine Sinclair (world-record goal scorer, NBD) doesn’t play, but she co-founded The Rise. Midfielder Quinn, the first openly non-binary, trans Olympic medallist, is everyone’s crush.

ESSENTIAL EATS: The secret $5 menu at Dawson’s Hot Dogs (sections 201/227) and Korean fried chicken at 203.

BLOOD FEUD: Emotions run high when the Whitecaps battle the Seattle Sounders or Portland Timbers for the Cascadia Cup.

WEAR THIS: The Southsiders are the Whitecaps’ loud-and-proud superfans—so passionate that they have their own merch.

TAKE NOTE: “March to the Match” from Dublin Calling on Granville and Smithe an hour before kickoff. Pre-game at Party-on-the-Plaza for games and giveaways.

MASCOT: “Spike” is a lovable belted kingfisher known, like the Canucks’ Fin, for pretending to eat children.

TICKETS: Starting from $44, whitecapsfc.com

BC Lions

Canadian Football League

THE PLACE: BC Place

THE RUNDOWN: Canadian football is its own beautiful beast and the BC Lions have mastered the art with six Grey Cup championships. Add halftime shows by the likes of 50 Cent and you’ve got yourself a roaring good time.

MEMORIZE THIS CHANT: The official fight song “Roar, You Lions, Roar!” was written by Vancouver’s “King of Swing,” Dal Richards. And practice your best lion roars, of course.

STAR PLAYERS: Victoria-born quarterback Nathan Rourke was the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2025.

ESSENTIAL EATS: Tater-tot nachos and, if it’s near Thanksgiving, turkey sandwiches at “The Beast” concession stands.

BLOOD FEUD: We can’t decide if it’s Calgary or Saskatchewan, but the important thing is to be mad at someone.

WEAR THIS: Orange and black—yes, that’s a tiger, don’t overthink it.

TAKE NOTE: Hit the Backyard Party (pre-kickoff) for live music, face painting, games and Uproar Dance Team performances.

MASCOT: Leo and Roary don’t have manes, which means they must be female lions, right? Very progressive, guys.

TICKETS: Starting from $25, bclions.com

The Canadians

Minor League Baseball

THE PLACE: Nat Bailey Stadium

THE RUNDOWN: Seeding future Blue Jays stars while serving three-foot-long hotdogs and hosting sushi races—welcome to Minor League Baseball in Vancouver. Going to a VanCans game is a beloved local summer tradition. Baseball knowledge optional.

MEMORIZE THIS CHANT: “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” (obviously!).

STAR PLAYERS: Keep an eye on whoever’s pitching. Last season’s Trey Yesavage made the Blue Jays’ World Series roster.

ESSENTIAL EATS: The aforementioned three-foot-long hotdog (share with a friend!), home-plate-sized pretzels, tater tot poutine and ice cream served in a helmet.

BLOOD FEUD: When the Eugene Emeralds come to town, it’s anyone’s game! And that makes us so mad!

WEAR THIS: Red and white (the goofier and more patriotic, the better). And sunscreen!

TAKE NOTE: Check the schedule for swag giveaway games and fireworks nights.

MASCOT: Bob Brown Bear is the team mascot, but the racing sushi characters (including Chef Wasabi) are icons in their own right.

TICKETS: Starting from $20, milb.com/vancouver

Vancouver FC

Canadian Premier League

THE PLACE: Willoughby Stadium (Langley)

THE RUNDOWN: If the Whitecaps are big-budget spectacle, Vancouver FC is the plucky upstart—young, scrappy and proudly repping the Fraser Valley.

MEMORIZE THIS CHANT: “V-F-C! V-F-C!” Keep it loud and relentless.

STAR PLAYERS: The roster is built around rising Canadian prospects. This is your chance to discover an up-and-comer to follow to the big leagues.

ESSENTIAL EATS: Let the mac and cheese bowl or walking taco fuel your fandom, or grab an espresso martini from the Artigiano Airstream trailer if you’re really ready to rally.

BLOOD FEUD: Games against Victoria’s Pacific FC are a B.C. bragging rights battle.

WEAR THIS: The Vancouver FC x Peace Collective hoodie—emblazoned with “The Valley Is Home”—is proof you’re in it to win it.

TAKE NOTE: Arrive early to snag a spot along the rail; with a capacity of just over 6,000, there’s not a bad seat, but front row spectatorship is a different sport entirely.

MASCOT: Sp’óq’es, a bald eagle introduced in 2023, nods to the club’s Fraser Valley roots and the region’s Indigenous connections.

TICKETS: Adult tickets starting from $20, youth from $12. vancouverfc.canpl.ca