It's official: BC Place to get new roof

BC Place is getting a new retractable roof, but it won't be in place until after the 2010 Winter Olympics,  Premier Gordon Campbell confirmed Friday.

Campbell told reporters the work on the stadium will be done in two phases, with renovations to the interior of the 25-year-old landmark in downtown Vancouver to be completed in time for the  Feb. 12 opening ceremony of the 2010 Games. Upgrades to the liner of the existing inflatable roof will also be completed by then, the premier said.

Work on the stadium's high-tech roof will start after 2010, Campbell said, though neither he nor David Podmore of PavCo, the Crown corporation that manages the facility, would say how much the project would cost until further research is completed. Some estimates have placed the tab at as much as $200 million.

However, both agreed that public-private sponsorship is a strong possibility for the project. And if a corporate sponsor gets involved, its name might be attached to the stadium.

The premier also announced that a new building to house the Vancouver Art Gallery would be erected on property adjacent to the stadium.

The need to replace the white, puffy marshmallow roof that has dominated the city's skyline became apparent on Jan. 5, 2007, when the Teflon-coated covering fell, leaving torn fabric flapping in the wind.

Reaction to the Friday's announcement was met with mixed reaction on Vancouver's streets, with some applauding the move and others calling it a waste of money.

However, it is good news for the Canadian Football League's B.C. Lions, who currently call the stadium home.

It is also welcoming news for the Vancouver Whitecaps of the United Soccer League, which will start playing at BC Place in 2011 after the new roof is up.