Thunderbird Stadium
Encyclopedia
Thunderbird Stadium is an outdoor stadium on the University Endowment Lands
of British Columbia
, west of Vancouver
's city limits. It is used primarily for soccer and football
by the University of British Columbia
Thunderbirds
. It seats 3,500 in the main grandstand. It was opened on October 7, 1967; renovations since then include the replacement of the original benches with fold-down seating.
By using the surrounding grass embankment the facility can accommodate up to 8,500 spectators. The 1989 Shrum Bowl football game between the Thunderbirds and Simon Fraser University
had the top football attendance, estimated at 8,700.
The facility is also used for Canadian Rugby
international matches, and the B.C. High School Rugby Championships.
Since 2006, the stadium has been used for Australian Rules Football
matches, including the West Coast Challenge
tournament, and in 2007 as the venue for Canada
's international games against the United States
and Japan
which drew 2,500 spectators. In 2008, it became home to the Vancouver Cougars
club.
In 2009, the stadium was used to host the Ireland national rugby union team
playing against the Canada national rugby union team
.
The facility was also used for cultural events and rock festivals. It has hosted Ozzfest
, Lilith Fair
, Lollapalooza
, Area:One Festival
, Another Roadside Attraction
and the Arts County Fair
. There have also been individual concerts including "Midnight Oil
/Hunters & Collectors
/Art Bergmann
" in 1991. Since 1995, Thunderbird Stadium has also been used for the Vans Warped Tour. Up to 25,000 have attended concerts and/or festivals at the stadium.
University Endowment Lands
The University Endowment Lands is an unincorporated area that lies to the west of the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada surrounding the University of British Columbia...
of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, west of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
's city limits. It is used primarily for soccer and football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
by the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
Thunderbirds
UBC Thunderbirds
The UBC Thunderbirds are the athletic teams that represent the University of British Columbia in the University Endowment Lands just outside the city limits of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They are one of the most successful teams in the CIS, though a few of their teams are members of the U.S...
. It seats 3,500 in the main grandstand. It was opened on October 7, 1967; renovations since then include the replacement of the original benches with fold-down seating.
By using the surrounding grass embankment the facility can accommodate up to 8,500 spectators. The 1989 Shrum Bowl football game between the Thunderbirds and Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser Clan
Simon Fraser Clan are the athletic teams that represent Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.SFU's teams formerly played in the United States National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for all sports. In 1997, Simon Fraser sought to join the U.S. NCAA as a Division II...
had the top football attendance, estimated at 8,700.
The facility is also used for Canadian Rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
international matches, and the B.C. High School Rugby Championships.
Since 2006, the stadium has been used for Australian Rules Football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
matches, including the West Coast Challenge
West Coast Challenge
The West Coast Challenge is an Australian rules football competition in British Columbia, Canada.The prize is the BC Cup.-History:...
tournament, and in 2007 as the venue for Canada
Northwind
The Northwind is Canada's national Australian rules football team that represents the clubs and teams of AFL Canada.Northwind players are selected from the best Canadian-born players from the club teams across Canada....
's international games against the United States
United States national Australian rules football team
The United States national Australian rules football team, nicknamed the Revolution represents the United States of America in the sport of Australian rules football....
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
which drew 2,500 spectators. In 2008, it became home to the Vancouver Cougars
Vancouver Cougars
The Vancouver Cougars are members of the Australian Football League Canada and compete in the North West Pacific Australian Football League.The club was founded in Vancouver, Canada on January 15, 2001, becoming the first ever Aussie Rules club in the city of Vancouver.-History:Club founders James...
club.
In 2009, the stadium was used to host the Ireland national rugby union team
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
playing against the Canada national rugby union team
Canada national rugby union team
The Canada national rugby union team represents Canada in international rugby union. They are governed by Rugby Canada, and play in red and black. Canada is classified by the International Rugby Board as a tier two rugby nation. There are ten tier one nations, and seven tier two nations, the...
.
The facility was also used for cultural events and rock festivals. It has hosted Ozzfest
Ozzfest
Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...
, Lilith Fair
Lilith Fair
Lilith Fair was a concert tour and travelling music festival, founded by Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan, Nettwerk Music Group's Dan Fraser and Terry McBride, and New York talent agent Marty Diamond. It took place during the summers of 1997 to 1999, and was revived in the summer of 2010. It...
, Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
, Area:One Festival
Area Festival
The Area Festival was a music festival founded by popular electronic musician Moby, who asserted that he was "in large part, inspired by the ethos of Lollapalooza", and wished to create a similarly "genuinely eclectic, interesting, alternative music festival". Moby organized the first such...
, Another Roadside Attraction
Another Roadside Attraction
Another Roadside Attraction is Tom Robbins' first novel, published in 1971 by Doubleday, which initiated what has grown to be considered his cult following.-Plot summary:...
and the Arts County Fair
Arts County Fair
Arts County Fair was an annual large outdoor benefit concert/beer garden that ran from 1992 to 2007 at Thunderbird Stadium at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada....
. There have also been individual concerts including "Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil , were an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie...
/Hunters & Collectors
Hunters & Collectors
Hunters & Collectors were an Australian rock music band formed in Melbourne in 1981, fronted by singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Seymour, they developed a blend of pub rock and art-funk...
/Art Bergmann
Art Bergmann
Art Bergmann is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter who was one of the key figures in Canadian punk rock in the late 1970s.-Punk bands:...
" in 1991. Since 1995, Thunderbird Stadium has also been used for the Vans Warped Tour. Up to 25,000 have attended concerts and/or festivals at the stadium.
