Connect with us

Sports

HSBC SVNS Vancouver Schedule Announced

Published

on

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 Could Make WNBA Attendance History in Montreal

Published

on

Tempo - make-it-to-montreal-hero

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.

Continue Reading

Sports

Toronto Tempo Unveil Bold “Rebel” Uniform Ahead of Inaugural Home Opener

Published

on

Tempo Jersey

The Toronto Tempo have revealed their new “Rebel” edition uniform, giving fans a first look at the alternate jersey the team will wear during its inaugural WNBA season.

The unveiling comes just ahead of the Tempo’s first-ever home opener and marks another milestone for the league’s newest franchise as it continues to establish its identity on and off the court.

The Rebel uniform is part of the WNBA’s league-wide alternate jersey program, which encourages each franchise to create a design that reflects its values, community, and culture. For the Tempo, that vision extends beyond Toronto.

The front of the jersey features “Tempo” across the chest, reinforcing the organization’s message that, while the club calls Toronto home, it represents basketball fans across Canada. The design is centered around the team’s secondary “T” logo, with speed lines extending outward to symbolize movement, pace, and the style of play the Tempo hope to bring to the court.

The uniform is finished in Borealis Blue, offering a cool contrast to the team’s signature Tempo Bordeaux colour. Flowing lines throughout the shorts are meant to capture the rhythm and motion of basketball, creating a look that emphasizes speed and constant movement.

The jersey also highlights two of the franchise’s founding partners. Beauty retailer Sephora appears on the shoulder, while CIBC’s logo is featured on the front of the jersey.

“The Rebel uniform is where we push boundaries and fully express who we are as the Toronto Tempo,” said Whitney Bell, the team’s Chief Marketing Officer, in a statement. “It’s bold, unapologetic, and rooted in the energy of our city. Every detail is designed to celebrate individuality, creativity, and the next generation of athletes and fans redefining the game. This jersey isn’t just something you wear—it’s a statement about where we’re going.”

Fans won’t have to wait long to get their own. The Toronto Tempo’s Rebel jersey is available now through the team’s online store (shop.torontotempo.com) as excitement continues to build for the franchise’s first season in the WNBA.

Continue Reading