Sports
HSBC SVNS Vancouver Schedule Announced
Fans will be treated to 70 matches and 28 hours of fast, hard-hitting rugby action over three days at HSBC SVNS Vancouver, with the full schedule for February 21 to 23 at BC Place now available here. Tickets are available for purchase at vansevens.com.
Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team, who had a fourth-place finish in Perth this past weekend and took bronze at the 2024 edition of HSBC SVNS Vancouver, will kick off their campaign on Friday February 21 at 3:28pm PT against Brazil. This will be the team’s first match on home soil since their history-making silver medal performance last summer at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
They will then continue Pool A action on Friday night, taking on Spain at 8:58pm PT. Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team will close out pool play against Australia, the HSBC SVNS Perth champions, on Saturday at 3:08pm PT.
World Rugby announced the pools for HSBC SVNS Vancouver on Sunday in Perth, including a highly anticipated men’s Pool B featuring Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Ireland.
In the men’s invitational, Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team will play a double round robin with Japan and Trinidad and Tobago on the Friday and Saturday. Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team kicks off their tournament with a rematch of November’s Rugby Americas North Sevens final, playing Trinidad and Tobago on the Friday at 1:30pm PT. They will then take on Japan that evening at 6:57pm PT.
The Saturday will see Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team play Trinidad and Tobago at 3:30pm PT, immediately following Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team’s match against Australia for a Canadian double feature.
Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team will then close the men’s invitational against Japan at 6:19pm PT.
The HSBC SVNS Vancouver play-offs will begin on Saturday afternoon starting with the men’s 9th place semi-finals at 4:07pm PT, followed by the men’s quarter-finals. Focus will turn to the women’s competition at 6:48pm PT, with day two of HSBC SVNS Vancouver closing with the women’s quarter-finals.
Sunday February 23 will feature the HSBC SVNS semi-finals and finals, with the men’s cup final set for 5:05pm PT and the women’s for 5:41pm PT. HSBC SVNS Perth marked the first time in tournament history that the women’s cup final was the last match played, a milestone that will be made in Vancouver as well.
Gates will open on the Friday at 10:45am, Saturday at 10:00am and Sunday at 10:30am. Ticketholders will have in and out privileges until 7:00pm on Friday, 6:00pm on Saturday and 3:00pm on Sunday.
TSN will air more than 13 hours of live linear television coverage, including Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team’s pool play matches against Spain and Australia and Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team’s Friday match against Japan and Saturday match against Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the third place play-off and cup final matches. In addition, all matches will be available on TSN+.
Single day tickets went on sale on Thursday January 23. The highest demand ticket type, fans are encouraged to buy early prior to February 5, 2025 at 11:59pm to take advantage of discounted pricing, before standard pricing comes into effect on February 6, 2025.
Tickets are available at vansevens.com. Questions regarding ticket purchases can be directed to tickets@vansevens.com or 604-355-5330.
More information about the HSBC SVNS Series can be found at svns.com.
KEY TIMES SUMMARY
Friday February 21
Gates open: 10:45am
In and out privileges until: 7:00pm
Canada’s Matches
1:30pm PT – Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Trinidad and Tobago
3:28pm PT – Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team vs Brazil
6:57pm PT – Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Japan
8:58pm PT – Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team vs Spain
Saturday February 22
Gates open: 10:00am
In and out privileges until: 6:00pm
Canada’s Matches (double feature in bold)
3:08pm PT – Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team vs Australia
3:30pm PT – Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Trinidad and Tobago
6:19pm PT – Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Japan
*Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team play-off matches and opponents TBD
Sunday February 23
Gates open: 10:30am
In and out privileges until: 3:00pm
*Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team play-off matches and opponents TBD
Finals
4:05pm PT – Men’s third place play-off
4:33pm PT – Women’s third place play-off
5:05pm PT – Men’s cup final
5:41pm PT – Women’s cup final
Sports
Toronto Tempo Bringing WNBA Action to Vancouver for Two-Game Series
WNBA basketball is coming to Vancouver this summer as the Toronto Tempo bring two regular-season games to Rogers Arena as part of their inaugural season.
The Tempo will face the Portland Fire on August 21 before taking on the Las Vegas Aces on August 23. The two games will give basketball fans across British Columbia a chance to see Canada’s WNBA team play on the West Coast.
The Vancouver series is part of the Tempo’s push to build a team that represents fans across the country. The franchise has already made its mark in its first season, including a record-setting stop in Montreal.
The Tempo’s regular-season showcase at Montreal’s Bell Centre drew 20,996 fans, setting a new WNBA regular-season attendance record. The Vancouver games continue that effort to bring the team closer to fans outside Toronto.
“From the beginning, our vision has been to build a team that represents all of Canada,” said Teresa Resch, President of the Toronto Tempo. “The support we’ve seen from fans across the country has been incredible, and we’re excited to bring the energy of the WNBA to Vancouver.”
Resch added that the games are a chance to celebrate basketball on the West Coast and connect with communities across the country.
Vancouver has a long history with basketball and has produced elite players at various levels. The Tempo’s visit gives local fans a chance to see professional women’s basketball in their own city, while providing young athletes with another opportunity to see the sport at its highest level.
The Tempo will stay in Vancouver beyond the court. The team will host Tempo Live at Rogers Arena on Saturday, August 22. The free community event will feature interactive basketball activities, clinics, exclusive merchandise and family-friendly programming.
Tickets for the Tempo’s August 21 game against Portland and August 23 matchup with Las Vegas are on sale now through Ticketmaster.
Sports
Toronto Tempo Could Make WNBA Attendance History in Montreal
The Toronto Tempo are on the verge of making WNBA history when they bring their Cross-Canada Series to Montreal next month.
The Tempo will face the Atlanta Dream at the Bell Centre on July 10, with the possibility of setting a new attendance record for a WNBA game. If the game sells out, more than 22,000 fans would fill the arena, surpassing the current WNBA regular-season attendance record of 20,711 set by the Washington Mystics at Capital One Arena in 2024.
A packed Bell Centre would also eclipse the WNBA playoff attendance record of 22,076, which was established during Game 3 of the 2003 WNBA Finals between the Detroit Shock and Los Angeles Sparks before being matched in Game 5 of the 2007 WNBA Finals between the Phoenix Mercury and Detroit Shock. It would mark the largest crowd ever for a professional women’s basketball regular-season game, breaking the previous record of 21,490 set during an Unrivaled game in Philadelphia earlier this year.
The potential milestone comes during the Tempo‘s inaugural WNBA season and would add another chapter to the continued growth of women’s basketball in Canada.
“Playing two games in Montreal this summer is a huge moment for the Tempo and for basketball in Canada,” said Tempo President Teresa Resch. “From the beginning, we’ve said we want to be Canada’s team, and bringing the WNBA to Montreal is an important part of that vision. There is such a strong and passionate basketball community in Quebec, and we’re excited to connect with fans there in a meaningful way. We can’t wait to experience the energy inside the Bell Centre and continue growing the game across the country together.”
The Cross-Canada Series will offer more than basketball. Throughout the weekend, the Tempo will host community events, youth programs and fan experiences aimed at growing the sport across Quebec.
The team is partnering with Ball Her Way and the Mathurin Family Foundation to increase access to basketball for young athletes, including a girls’ 3-on-3 tournament presented by Canadian Tire featuring teams from Montreal and Quebec City. The Tempo say more community investments and programming in the Montreal area will be announced in the coming months.
Fans can take part in Tempo Live at the Bell Centre on July 11. The free event will include interactive basketball activities, community clinics, exclusive merchandise and family-friendly entertainment.
The weekend concludes on July 12, when the Tempo host the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty at the Bell Centre at 3 p.m. ET as part of the Cross-Canada Series.
Tickets for both Montreal games are available through Ticketmaster.