Lions to host Alex, Stampeders in Kelowna as Vancouver hosts World Cup

The BC Lions will take on the Edmonton Alex and Calgary Stampeders next season in Kelowna, BC, while their home stadium at BC Place will host the FIFA World Cup.

The Lions will take on the Stampeders at the Apple Bowl on June 27, then take on the Elks at the same venue on July 4.

The Apple Bowl, home of the Okanagan Suns of the Canadian Junior Football League, will expand to 17,500 seats for two games.

The World Cup will also temporarily displace the Toronto Argonauts, who are set to play home games at Hamilton Stadium, Mosaic Stadium Regina and Winnipeg’s Princess Auto Stadium during the tournament.

BC Place and Toronto’s BMO Field will jointly host 13 World Cup matches when soccer’s men’s world championship takes place between Canada, the United States and Mexico between June 11 and July 19.

FIFA will also hold the venue 30 days before the first match at each stadium.

Toronto will host six games, including Canada’s first-ever World Cup title on home soil on June 12.

Seven games will be played in Vancouver, including Canada’s group matches on June 18 and 24, a round of 32 game on July 2 and a round of 16 game on July 7.

Kelowna and the surrounding area have long been “a hub for great Lions fans,” said team president Dwayne Vanneau.

“We very much look forward to calling Colonna home for two big games against two of our biggest division rivals,” he said in a release. “Both the party at and around the games will also give the week a ‘Mini Gray Cup Festival’ kind of feel.”

BC’s star quarterback, Nathan Rourke, said he is looking forward to the unique game.

“As a proud British Columbian, I can’t wait to lead the Lions to another historic CFL venture in our province,” he said.

“To start our home schedule at Kelowna will be a great opportunity for our team to gel. It will also be exciting to get out into the community and engage with our great fans throughout the region.”

The CFL is set to release its full schedule on December 9.