Halloween is about to get a little more hectic in Vancouver. With ghosts, goblins and ghouls preparing to take over the streets Saturday, two of the city’s biggest sports teams are also getting in on the action. The B.C. Lions and Vancouver Canucks are both playing at home on Halloween, bringing thousands of fans downtown and creating a busy day for police, transit officials and anyone trying to get around the city. The Lions kick things off at B.C. Place at 1:30 p.m., hosting the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the CFL’s Western Semi-Final. It’s a win-or-go-home matchup, with a spot in the Western Final on the line. The Canucks follow at Rogers Arena, facing the Toronto Maple Leafs at 4 p.m. That means two major sporting events, at neighbouring venues, with overlapping start and finish times all on a Halloween Saturday. And police are preparing for more than just the crowds inside the stadiums. Vancouver police say they will have dozens of additional officers deployed throughout the city to help manage the busy night. Const. Megan Lui says officers will be spread across several events and popular gathering spots, including the Lions and Canucks games, Dooms Night, Fright Night, the Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood, Gastown and the Granville Entertainment District. “Tomorrow night we will have 80 additional officers because there are several events that are happening,” Lui said. For those heading downtown, TransLink is preparing to move large numbers of people before and after both games. SkyTrain frequencies will be maximized, with trains running every three to five minutes. TransLink will also have additional staff on the ground, while empty trains will be deployed to Stadium-Chinatown Station following both games to help move passengers more quickly. Staff will monitor crowding throughout the evening. But the safety concerns extend well beyond downtown. Police are reminding families taking young trick-or-treaters door-to-door to stay together, cross at intersections, make eye contact with drivers and wear reflective clothing. Parents are also encouraged to check Halloween candy before children eat it.
