Vancouver to show games on giant street screens

Couldn't get tickets to the game? Don't worry - you can still watch the Canucks downtown, alongside thousands of your fellow fans.

The city of Vancouver has announced that three large television screens will be in operation Wednesday, as the Canucks battle the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final.

One of the fan zones will be in the 700 block of Granville Street, between Georgia and Robson. The screen will be situated on the back of a flat-deck truck. Gates will be set up around the site and Mayor Gregor Robertson said it will hold up to 6,000 people.

Capacity for the second fan zone, in the 700 block of Hamilton Street, will be about 4,000 people. Fans have already been flocking to that venue to watch the game on a screen outside CBC headquarters. The city will add a second screen at the south end of the street.

Alcohol will not be permitted. Fans are asked to arrive early and to bring their own chairs. Admission is free.

Mr. Robertson said the city has budgeted $500,000 to cover costs related to the fan zones. He stressed that dollar figure is the worst-case estimate and the actual cost is expected to be much lower.

The sites will be open throughout the series.

The Canucks announced Tuesday that Rogers Arena, the team's home, will be open to fans who want to watch road games on the big screen. Tickets will be $10, plus a handling fee, and go on sale Friday at noon. Proceeds go to the Canucks for Kids Fund. Each household can purchase a maximum of six tickets.