Langley Events Centre

The Langley Events Centre is a 322,312-square-foot (29,943.8 m2) multipurpose facility in the Township of Langley. The LEC debuted in April 2009, hosting the 2009 BC Gymnastics Championships. It boasts an arena bowl with a 5,276 capacity for sports, including 24 individual suites. The LEC also showcases a triple Gymnasium with a capacity of 2,200 spectators under its centre court configuration. The venue's second building houses the Field House, a dry floor arena, as well as a double gymnasium with a capacity of 1,000 spectators. Other highlights of the facility include a Banquet Hall with an 800-person capacity, an indoor walking track, meeting rooms, and the Willoughby Community Centre, while includes a fitness facility, outdoor playground and various grass and turf fields. The LEC is home to the Langley Gymnastics Foundation, a non-profit organization offering gymnastics programming for recreational and competitive athletes.

Langley Events Centre
Location7888 200th Street
Langley, British Columbia
V2Y 3J4
Coordinates49°8′45″N 122°39′58″W
OwnerTownship Of Langley
CapacityArena: 5,276
Field House: 520
Centre Gymnasium: 2,200
South Gymnasium: 1,000
Construction
OpenedApril 1, 2009
Construction costC$56 million
Tenants
Langley Rivermen (BCHL) (2009–2016)
Trinity Western Spartans (U Sports) (2009–present)
Langley Thunder (WLA) (2009–present)
Langley Thunder (BCJALL) (2009–present)
BC Boys AAA High School Basketball Championship (2011–present)
BC Titans (IBL) (2009–2010)
Vancouver Stealth (NLL) (2013–2018)
Vancouver Giants (WHL) (2016–present)
Valley West Hawks/Giants (BCMML)
Langley Events Centre before the 2011 BC Boys AAA High School Basketball Championship

History

The Langley Events Centre, the largest sports and recreation project in Langley's history to date, opened its doors after more than two years of construction. Plans were unveiled on December 18, 2006, for what was then a $45 million multi-use facility. Costs ultimately rose to $56 million, partially funded by the Township, the province, and private builders.[1] The first event hosted at the LEC was the 2009 BC Gymnastics Championships.[2]

Teams

Vancouver Stealth

The Washington Stealth of the National Lacrosse League relocated to the LEC on June 27, 2013 to become the Vancouver Stealth.[3] They are the second NLL team to play in Greater Vancouver, following the Vancouver Ravens from 2002 through 2004 at General Motors Place. Beginning in the 2018-19 season home games will be played at Rogers Arena home of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL so will be leaving the Langley Event Centre.

Langley Rivermen

The LEC was home to the Langley Rivermen of the British Columbia Hockey League.[4] The team began play in 2011 after the Langley Chiefs returned to their original home, becoming the Chilliwack Chiefs. The Rivermen re-locating to the George Preston Recreation Centre, due to the Vancouver Giants moving into the LEC.[5]

Langley Thunder

The LEC hosts three Langley Thunder lacrosse teams, the Langley Thunder Western Lacrosse Association team, the Langley Thunder BC Junior A Lacrosse League team, and the Langley Thunder Intermediate team.[6]

Trinity Western University Athletics

Five Trinity Western Spartans sports teams[7] play at the Langley Events Centre: basketball (men's and women's), volleyball (men's and women's), and hockey (men's). The LEC replaced David E. Enarson Gymnasium as the home of the Spartans.[8]

BC Titans

The BC Titans[9] of the International Basketball League (IBL) called the LEC home from 2009-2010. Team management opted not to participate in the IBL for the 2011 season.[10]

Vancouver Giants

The Vancouver Giants of the WHL have started play with the beginning of the 2016–2017 season at the Langley Events Centre. They had previously played at the Pacific Coliseum.[11]

Notable events
  • 2009 BC Artistic Gymnastics Provincial Championships
  • 2010 Vancouver/Whistler Winter Olympics Torch Relay Community Celebration site
  • 2010 Women’s Hockey Pre-Olympic exhibition game, Russia vs Slovakia
  • 2010 Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League (WHL), 6 regular season home games
  • 2011 NLL Pre-Season (Washington Stealth vs Toronto Rock)
  • 2011 Mann Cup (Langley Thunder vs. Brampton Excelsiors)
  • 2011 World Junior A Hockey Challenge
  • 2012 World Curling Financial Group Continental Cup
  • 2012 NLL Pre-Season (Calgary Roughnecks vs Colorado Mammoth)
  • 2012 U23 Pan American Men's Volleyball Cup
  • 2013 Special Olympics BC Provincial Summer Games Opening Ceremony
  • 2013 NORCECA Men's Volleyball Continental Cup
  • 2013 NLL Championship Game
  • 2014 Vancouver Stealth Franchise Opener
  • 2014 Minto Cup (Coquitlam Adanacs vs Six Nations Arrows)
  • Eight High School Basketball tournaments are played at the LEC each year, including the 4A Boys Basketball Championships
  • 2018 LORDCO Road to the World Junior (Finland vs Denmark, USA vs Czech Republic)
  • 2019 BC Compulsory Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships


Other notes

The LEC is home to a number of groups and organizations, including Tourism Langley, MLA Rich Coleman's offices, and the Langley Sports Medicine Clinic.

References
  1. "LEC Opening Nears".
  2. "2009 BC Gymnastics Championships".
  3. "Vancouver Stealth - Home". www.stealthlax.com.
  4. "Homepage".
  5. "Vancouver Giants' move to Langley Events Centre comes to fruition - Langley Advance". 3 May 2016.
  6. "Home - Langley Thunder". www.langleythunder.com.
  7. TWU Spartans
  8. TWU basketball's historic day: Saying goodbye to the David E Archived 2012-07-07 at Archive.today
  9. BC Titans Website Archived 2010-03-17 at the Wayback Machine
  10. BC Titans Drop Out of IBL Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine
  11. "Bye bye big city, hello suburbs: Vancouver Giants leaving for Langley - CBC News".
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