On August 17, 2024, PNE President and CEO Shelley Frost was joined by Jean B. Péladeau, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Videotron, Fizz and Freedom Mobile, in announcing the name selected by British Columbians during a month-long province-wide poll.
“I am happy to announce that the name of the spectacular new PNE outdoor venue will be the Freedom Mobile Arch. Thank you to everyone who responded to our invitation and voted for their favourite name. We hope that the Freedom Mobile Arch will become an iconic landmark in Vancouver and BC,” said Jean B. Péladeau, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Videotron, Fizz and Freedom Mobile. “Freedom is proud to be a part of the PNE’s journey for years to come. We could not be more excited for this unique opportunity to contribute to Vancouver’s cultural scene and help enhance the city’s live entertainment experience for all to enjoy.”
PNE President and CEO Shelley Frost said the Freedom Mobile Arch name was the clear favourite, more than doubling all other name suggestions combined. “When it opens in 2026, the Freedom Mobile Arch will be the home of incredible experiences and arguably be one of the most beautiful outdoor amphitheatre stages in North America.”
The 12-year agreement between the PNE and Freedom Mobile was announced earlier this year and includes a number of elements, including support not only for the amphitheatre, but beginning in 2024 a partnership on some of the PNE’s most beloved properties including the annual summer Fair and the PNE’s extremely popular Halloween event, Fright Nights.
“The partnership between the PNE and Freedom Mobile represents what is possible when best-in-class brands and properties join forces” says UNITE Partnerships Inc. Co-Founder and Managing Director Garnet Nelson. “We’re excited to see the venue name announced today and can hardly wait for the first live performance in the Freedom Mobile Arch in 2026”.
The amphitheatre project, which has been in the planning stages for several years and is designed to showcase British Columbian and Canadian building products and engineering while adhering to the highest standards of environmental sustainability.
Plans for the venue include hosting a wide variety of music and culture events – ranging from the incredibly popular Summer Night Concerts at the PNE Fair, to arts and culture performances by symphonies, cultural innovators, community organizations and others. With the beautiful BC mountains in the background, the venue’s clear-span wood roof is not only striking but also engineered to act as a significant sound barrier to mitigate noise bleed into the surrounding community.
Designed by renowned Vancouver-based architecture company Revery Architecture, construction on the Freedom Mobile Arch is anticipated to be complete in summer 2026.
One of the most spectacular elements of the design is the roof structure, which, when completed will be longer than the roof of the Richmond Oval and one of the longest clear-span roofs in the world.
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