Vancouver’s Freedom Mobile Arch at the PNE opens Friday
Freedom Mobile Arch in Vancouver opens as a 10,000-seat venue for concerts and World Cup watch parties See how the PNE’s new landmark could shape BC’s live events scene and future generations
Vancouver’s new Freedom Mobile Arch at the Pacific National Exhibition is set to welcome its first audience on Friday, with an inaugural concert and FIFA World Cup watch parties to follow next week.
The amphitheatre can host up to 10,000 people and is expected to be used for live match broadcasts, music, and other events during the World Cup. PNE spokesperson Laura Ballance said the venue’s setting, with the North Shore Mountains and Burrard Inlet nearby, could make it a memorable landmark for future generations.
The venue is also being positioned as an important space for British Columbia’s arts and culture scene. It will serve as the main stage for the PNE Summer Concert Series, with performers including Nelly, Sarah McLachlan, and the Barenaked Ladies. The project’s estimated cost has risen to about $183 million, up from an original 2023 budget of $64.8 million.