On an uncharacteristically musical Saturday at B.C. Place, it wasn’t a roaring crowd of football fans but rather an electrifying concert audience that set a new milestone. British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran broke the venue’s previous attendance record with a total of 65,061 fans, surpassing the record of 63,803 set by U2 in 2009. Notably, Sheeran paid homage to the local sports culture by wearing a B.C. Lions jersey during part of his performance.

The record-breaking attendance occurred amid B.C. Place’s 40th-anniversary celebrations. The event carried a particular resonance given that the highest attendance for a football game at this venue had been 59,621 fans during the 1986 Grey Cup. This recent event underscores the versatility of the venue, as well as the widespread appeal of Sheeran, who is a global music sensation with over 114 million Spotify subscribers.

Ed Sheeran’s tribute to local sports didn’t go unnoticed. During a segment of the concert, the artist was seen wearing a B.C. Lions number 29 home jersey, which featured the title of his latest album, “Autumn Variations,” across the back. This wardrobe choice was in keeping with Sheeran’s pattern of celebrating local culture during his North American tour stops, and it certainly added a unique layer of connection with the Vancouver audience.

Chris May, the General Manager of B.C. Place, commented on the historic occasion: “The energy and excitement from the crowd was electric.” The sentiment was echoed by B.C.’s Minister of Tourism, Art, Culture and Sport, Lana Popham, who noted that artists like Ed Sheeran contribute to the city’s “vibrant cultural landscape.”

This record-setting concert was part of Sheeran’s 2023 Mathematics Tour. His next stops include a September 9th performance in Nevada, but his Vancouver appearance has already left an indelible mark on both the history and the cultural fabric of the city.

Upcoming concerts at B.C. Place for the rest of the year feature other big names like Beyoncé, Coldplay, and Guns N’ Roses, but Ed Sheeran’s record-setting attendance—along with his nod to the B.C. Lions—will be a hard act to follow.