Nussli, the internationally operating supplier of modular stadiums, will construct a new temporary stadium with about 27,500 seats for the Vancouver Whitecaps and the BC Lions Football Club.

The teams will play in the stadium while BC Place is undergoing construction of a new, retractable roof. While the work is being done, the 2010 season home games of the BC Lions, who play in the Canadian Football League, and the first home games of 2011 season for the Vancouver Whitecaps, who will join the MLS, will be played in the interim stadium.

The modular stadium has a capacity of 27,500 seats, including 12 suites for 20 persons, commentator boxes for radio and TV along with press seating, floodlights, lighting and cladding. When BC Place is ready for occupancy, the temporary stadium will be completely dismantled.

• Vancouver Whitecaps stadium to get a new roof

It will cost US$14.4 million to build and then remove the temporary structure. That money is budgeted for as part of the BC Place project.

"We are delighted to be setting a milestone in the temporary building sector in North America with our interim solution for the BC Lions and Whitecaps," reports Bernd Helmstadt, managing director of Nussli. "The advantages of modular stadium construction are installation and reaction speed as well as price and profitability."