You can get schedules for all major events at Tourism Vancouver's Visitor Centre (200 Burrard St.; tel. 604/683-2000; www.tourismvancouver.com). Purchase tickets from Ticketmaster (tel. 855/985-5000; www.ticketmaster.ca) or from dozens of outlets in the Greater Vancouver area. Popular events such as Canucks games sell out weeks or months in advance, so be sure to book ahead.

Baseball

At Nat Bailey Stadium (4601 Ontario St.), the minor league Vancouver Canadians (tel. 604/872-5232; www.canadiansbaseball.com) play a good game of baseball complete with hot dogs and beer. Tickets run C$13 to C$22, with a senior discount available.

Football

In 2011, the Canadian Football League's BC Lions (tel. 604/589-7627; www.bclions.com) moved their home and Grey Cup championship games (in good seasons) from Empire Field to the 55,000-seat BC Place Stadium (777 Pacific Blvd. S., at Beatty and Robson sts.). The stadium has a newly finished retractable roof, cheerfully dubbed the "Blue Sky" roof. Canadian football differs from its American cousin: It's a three-down offense game on a field that's 10 yards longer and wider. Some of the plays you see will have American fans leaping out of their seats in surprise. Tickets for individual games are available from Ticketmaster (tel. 855/985-5000; www.ticketmaster.ca); prices run from C$35 to C$85.

Hockey

The National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks play at Rogers Arena (recently renamed from GM Place; 800 Griffiths Way; tel. 604/899-4600, or 604/899-7444 for the event hotline; www.canucks.com). Tickets start at C$65 and, while difficult to obtain because the season tends to sell out in advance, some individual seats are made available for every home game. Purchase tickets from Ticketmaster (tel. 855/985-5000; www.ticketmaster.ca).

The Vancouver Giants (tel. 604/444-2687; www.vancouvergiants.com) also offer an exciting hockey game. The minor league team plays at the Pacific Coliseum (100 N. Renfrew St.) for a bargain price: Tickets start at C$18, through Ticketmaster (tel. 855/985-5000; www.ticketmaster.ca).

Horse Racing

Thoroughbreds run at Hastings Park Racecourse (Exhibition Park, 188 N. Renfrew St.; tel. 604/254-1631; www.hastingspark.com) from mid-April to October. Call ahead or check the website for the latest schedule. The racecourse has a decent restaurant, so you can make a full afternoon or evening of dining and racing.

Running

The Vancouver Sun Run in April and the Vancouver International Marathon (Canada's largest) in May attract thousands of runners from around the world and even more spectators. Contact the Vancouver International Marathon Society (tel. 604/872-2928; www.bmovanmarathon.ca), or the Vancouver Sun Run (21-200 Granville St.; tel. 604/689-9441; www.sunrun.com) for information.

Soccer

The Vancouver Whitecaps (tel. 604/899-9283; www.whitecapsfc.com) recently moved to BC Place Stadium (777 Pacific Blvd. S., at Beatty and Robson sts.) to play under the new retractable roof. The team joined the MLS professional league in 2011. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster (tel. 855/646-2277; www.ticketmaster.ca); admission is typically C$20 to C$55.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.