The 2011 BC Lions season was the 54th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 58th overall. The Lions finished in first place in the West Division with an 11–7 record. The Lions won their sixth Grey Cup championship over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by a score of 34–23. The Lions became the first team in league history to start a season 0–5 and finish in first place. They also became the first team to lose their first five regular season games and win the Grey Cup. The Lions were also the first team to win a Grey Cup championship in their home stadium since the 1994 BC Lions and were only the fourth team to win at home since the inception of the Canadian Football League in 1958. Because of their remarkable season, the Lions were named the Canadian Press Team of the Year for 2011, becoming only the second CFL team to win the award since 1983. The Lions opened their training camp at Hillside Stadium in Kamloops, British Columbia with rookie camp beginning June 1 and main camp beginning on June 5. Due to ongoing construction at BC Place Stadium, the Lions played their first five regular season games at Empire Field before moving to BC Place for the remaining four. On October 10, 2011, the Lions clinched a playoff berth after the Saskatchewan Roughriders lost their game to the Edmonton Eskimos. This extends the franchise record to 15 straight years in the playoffs, with that mark also tied for fourth-best in CFL history.
Offseason
BC Place construction
Due to the continued construction of BC Place Stadium, the Lions started their season at Empire Field, the temporary stadium that they played in for all ten games in 2010. However, it was unclear as to when the Lions would move into the refurbished stadium, as the contractor, PCL Westcoast Constructor, would not reveal a date. It was likely that between three and five regular season games would be played at BC Place Stadium and it has been guaranteed that it will be complete by November 1, in time for the 99th Grey Cup, which it is scheduled to host. On February 7, 2011, it was announced that the BC Lions would be opening the newly renovated BC Place on September 30, 2011. When the schedule was released on February 18, 2011, it was announced that the Lions' opponent would be the Edmonton Eskimos and that they would play four 2011 regular season games in BC Place Stadium.
The 2011 CFL Draft took place on Sunday, May 8, 2011. The Lions had five selections in the draft, with the first coming in the sixth spot overall, after trading their third overall pick with Calgary. Through the trade, BC was still able to select their first choice, Marco Iannuzzi, with their first pick and then draft kicker/punter Hugh O'Neill to replace the recently traded Sean Whyte. BC also selected Alex Ellis in the 2011 supplemental draft, and must forfeit a sixth-round 2012 draft pick.
Round
Pick
Player
Position
School/Club Team
1
6
Marco Iannuzzi
WR
Harvard
2
11
Hugh O'Neill
K/P
Alberta
3
19
Michael Carter
DB
Maryland
5
37
Yannick Sage
OL
Sherbrooke
6
42
Chris Hodgson
DL
Saint Mary's
Preseason
Regular season
Standings
Season schedule
The Lions played their first five regular season games at Empire Field and played their remaining four at BC Place Stadium.
On September 10, 2011, Lions receiver Geroy Simon became the franchise's all-time touchdowns leader when he scored his 88th touchdown as a BC Lion, surpassing Willie Fleming.
