Major announcement from Vancouver

[Goodfellas FC]

VANCOUVER, BC - There will be a major announcement about the future of soccer in Vancouver and British Columbia.

What: Announcement about the future of soccer in Vancouver and British Columbia.
When: Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Time: 1:15 a.m. ET announcement Where: Westin Bayshore, Grand Ballroom, Vancouver, B.C.




http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20090318&content_id=227006&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp

[Whoop]

1:15 a.m.?

That's an early press conference.

EDIT: 1:15 a.m. on the 18th... that just passed. What did they announce?

[JDG]

This was reported yesterday wasn't it?

[Carts]

1:15am et...???

So they're making the announcement at 10:15pm local time...???

WTF...???

Carts...

[Nodoubtguy]

1:15pm ET today....not am

[nascarguy]

This was reported yesterday wasn't it?
no it was put on the mls site at 03/18/2009 09:23AM

[Goodfellas FC]

don't shoot the messenger :noidea:

its set for 10am bc time!

[nascarguy]

1:15pm ET today....not am
mls web team screw up the time that was posted

[Sab0tage]

Anyone know a live stream to watch this?

[rocker]

mlsnet.com says they'll have a stream.. plus the whitecaps website (or should I say SHITECAPS!!! -- ahh, can't wait for the MLS rivalry to begin!! ;)

[parrott114]

http://www.whitecapsfc.com/announcement/

[mr k]

cbc will have a stream at 115 pm ET

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/

[Don Julio]

OMG What could it be?!

[rocker]

did that Vancouver MLS guy get a temporary board ban? hahah. what timing!

[billyfly]

did that Vancouver MLS guy get a temporary board ban? hahah. what timing!


Seriously. It was kinda funny until he said "kick Toronto's ass.."

Persona non grata.

[chip_butty]

url doesn't give it away or anything:

http://www.vancouvermls2011.com/

[JDG]

did that Vancouver MLS guy get a temporary board ban? hahah. what timing!


Seriously. It was kinda funny until he said "kick Toronto's ass.."

Persona non grata.


He hasn't been banned, but he was warned to tone it down significantly.

[StandUpIfYouHateChelsea]

1:15 a.m.?

That's an early press conference.

EDIT: 1:15 a.m. on the 18th... that just passed. What did they announce?

because thats in eastern , this is in vancouver ... its actually just a night press conference there...;)

[Inklink]

url doesn't give it away or anything:

http://www.vancouvermls2011.com/

LMAO

EDIT: They just updated "Check back at 10:00" to "Check back at 10:10"

[chip_butty]

LMAO

EDIT: They just updated "Check back at 10:00" to "Check back at 10:10"

and now www.whitecapsfc.com says 10:15

[Sab0tage]

They already have season ticket deposits going out in two days.

[T_Mizz]

The site is now up!

[rocker]

i'm hearing crappy spanish influenced music through the stream.
was this the planned music for the Miami MLS press conference? ;)

[TFC Udora]

I love the music

[Whoop]

BC Place?

So they'll be playing on turf to start?

[Inklink]

Your call is important to us. Please hold for the next available respresentative.

[Sab0tage]

Montreal should be kicking themselves. They could have had their place confirmed right about now if they didn't back out.

[chip_butty]

The opponents in the background shot of BC Place are dressed in all red ;-)

[VoxPopuliCosmicum]

Elevator music while waiting. Sux.

[TFC Udora]

Hopefully this will improve the CMNT

[Red CB Toronto]

I love this music, I only want to be lost, so lets all get up and dance, you Reds

[Whoop]

If Vancouver gets the waterfront stadium, how long before the CMNT moves out there?

[Inklink]

Hopefully this will improve the CMNT

Absolutely. Looking forward to 2011.:canada:

Now only if they start the PC on time!

[NF-FC]

i'm hearing crappy spanish influenced music through the stream.
was this the planned music for the Miami MLS press conference? ;)

Please welcome to MLS, FC Barca Vancouver!

[drewski]

seems the Whitecaps have a 5 year lease at BC place which sucks.

http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/sports/story.html?id=4630deeb-92ed-45b0-972d-254d4c031866&p=3


While MLS feels teams that own and operate their own soccer-specific stadiums have the greatest shot at financial success, the Whitecaps have signed a five-year lease to begin playing at a renovated BC Place Stadium in 2011.


That means the team can't play in its own proposed Vancouver waterfront stadium until 2016.


hopefully they have an out clause so they can move into a SSS as soon as possible.


in general, I like the looks of the proposed changes to BC place

[Inklink]

I hear people!

[drewski]

here we go!

[Nodoubtguy]

This is great for soccer in Canada......add MTL and Ottawa soon......

[Sab0tage]

Are those MLS scarves or Vancouver?

[Red CB Toronto]

Where is the music it just stopped, maybe something is wrong

[Red CB Toronto]

is there a fead working anywhere

[Red CB Toronto]

This

[Nodoubtguy]

http://web.mlsnet.com/sights/2009/vancouver/

[rocker]

nice video

[Red CB Toronto]

Don Garber, my hero is doing a great service by expanding the league into Canada even more, what a way to promote a great game.

[Inklink]

Yes great video. They've got the history.
This is great.

[Sab0tage]

Rival fans in Toronto? Pff.

[rocker]

suck it, Montreal!

[Nodoubtguy]

teams #19 and #20 in 2012.....nice.
guessing MTL and St Louis.

[olegunnar]

suck it, Montreal!

my thoughts exactly

dont' care either way about the shitecaps...but today is a good day....a day where Montreal gets kicked in the balls is always good

[Miko]

Wonder why they're capping season tickets sales at 5K to start?

Put down a $50 Vancouver Major League Soccer deposit when they go on sale on Saturday, March 21st at 10:00 a.m. There are only 5,000 deposits that will be available to the public on Saturday, so the sooner you put your deposit down, the sooner you get to select your seats. To make your deposit on Saturday

[Alarius]

I don't have audio at work.. so I'm just adding my own soundtrack..
right now this dude is talking about how bad they are gonna lose when TFC comes visiting...

[rocker]

Wonder why they're capping season tickets sales at 5K to start?

Put down a $50 Vancouver Major League Soccer deposit when they go on sale on Saturday, March 21st at 10:00 a.m. There are only 5,000 deposits that will be available to the public on Saturday, so the sooner you put your deposit down, the sooner you get to select your seats. To make your deposit on Saturday

probably to encourage people to get off their asses 2 years in advance and place deposits.

[Inklink]

Nice words for TFC from Mayor Robertson.

[rocker]

nice to see a mayor who once played soccer.
and the owners played soccer.

[rocker]

"we'll take those TFC guys on at a national level" -- Jeff Mallett

[Inklink]

"we'll take those TFC guys on at a national level" -- Jeff Mallett

Yeah, it's building up already.:canada:

[TFC Udora]

I wonder if CBC will double it's coverage now with Vancouver?

[Inklink]

Lenarduzzi putting a lot of pressure on the fans :p

Damn, sweet stadium.

[rocker]

Lenarduzzi says Vancouver is a better soccer market than Toronto.. ;)

[mr k]

lena-duzzi says van city better footy market than Seattle or TO

[Nodoubtguy]

"No doubt a better soccer market then Seattle (22.5k season tickets) and Toronto (16k season tickets + 14k waiting list)"

[Pachuco]

Did that cock sucker Lenarduzi just say that he has no doubt in his mind that Vancouver soccer market is better then Toronto's? WTF is that you arrogant prick?

[Pachuco]

Ok, so we all heard the same thing :)

[Eastend]

I'm not watching it but if you think about it they've been supporting the Whitecaps longer then we've been around.....no?


not saying they're a better market but they've been around longer in general...

[rocker]

Did that cock sucker Lenarduzi just say that he has no doubt in his mind that Vancouver soccer market is better then Toronto's? WTF is that you arrogant prick?

vancouver is really provoking us... I love it :)

[Pachuco]

I'm not watching it but if you think about it they've been supporting the Whitecaps longer then we've been around.....no?


not saying they're a better market but they've been around longer in general...

Yeap they have, doesn't mean it's a better market. It's really arrogant to say something like that before you've sold a single season ticket. It would be pretty hard to match what Seattle has done at this point as well so I think he should chill out and see how it goes before claiming victory.

[Dudebroguy]

Now that 2 more teams are expected for 2012 do you guys know at what point it will be capped off?

[Keystone FC]

Lenarduzzi says Vancouver is a better soccer market than Toronto.. ;)

The challenge has been laid down but I'll wait until they have a 14,000 waiting list for season tickets before I will even resond to that challenge.
Either way. A good day for Candian soccer.
:canada:

[Nodoubtguy]

Now that 2 more teams are expected for 2012 do you guys know at what point it will be capped off?

I would expect that would be the end.......20 sounds like a good number

[NF-FC]

Now that 2 more teams are expected for 2012 do you guys know at what point it will be capped off?

No idea. Sounds the Don really wants Ottawa and St.Louis. If Ottawa doesn't get the stadium, it's probably down to Montreal and New York with some sabre rattling from Atlanta

[drewski]

Yeap they have, doesn't mean it's a better market. It's really arrogant to say something like that before you've sold a single season ticket. It would be pretty hard to match what Seattle has done at this point as well so I think he should chill out and see how it goes before claiming victory.

how about pre-mls? I'd think they've had a much better track record then Toronto

[Red CB Toronto]

I will say that prior to TFC coming onto the scene when both the Whitecaps and Lynx were in the A-League/USL-1 that Vancouver has far more support for their team.

[Toronto Ruffrider]

I love the smack talk. The Duze knows how to push our buttons. It's gonna be a lot of fun to kick Vanny's ass in the top flight!

[NF-FC]

I would expect that would be the end.......20 sounds like a good number

I don't think they can cap it at 20. If Ottawa and St. Louis are in at 19 and 20, you still have Montreal and New York II on the outside looking in. They may pause for a few years after 2012 but it's not the end

[Red CB Toronto]

Is there not a FIFA limit on a top flight footy league, maybe there more teams you add the closer we get to have promotion/relegation like when they split the J-League in Japan.

[rocker]

From Friends of Soccer:

In 1979, a simple soccer team and a famous sportscaster's slip of the tongue, brought Vancouver together like never before. In the buildup to ABC's coverage of the '79 NASL Soccer Bowl, the legendary Jim McKay innocently referred to Vancouver as a “deserted village”. When the Whitecaps returned home as Champions of the North American Soccer League, over a hundred thousand Vancouverites took to the streets in joy and made the word “Villager” a badge of honour. Vancouver had never celebrated anything with such unity and passion before. Nor has it since.

March 18, 2009 is a great day in history for both soccer and our city. Today's announcement that the Vancouver Whitecaps will become a member of Major League Soccer in 2011 is the fantastic result of almost seven years of hard work and vision by Greg Kerfoot, Bob Lenarduzzi, Rachel Lewis and the entire Whitecaps organization. The B.C. soccer community and the citizens of Vancouver owe them a great debt of gratitude and heartfelt congratulations for their achievement.

More than ever before, soccer has become the international language of the world, and Vancouver can now reclaim its top tier place in the game's global community. Famous soccer clubs from the great cities of the world will once again make their way to Vancouver on a regular basis, and the Whitecaps name will become synonomous with our city throughout the globe. The soccer culture that has always existed in Vancouver & B.C. will flourish like never before, and our children will be able to grow up knowing that the soccer they play is much more than a "foreign" game.

The news that Vancouver is once again back at the top level of North American soccer will also bring tremendous benefits to our city for generations to come. The culture of traveling support that exists in MLS will fill thousands of hotel rooms, and bring new jobs and millions of dollars into our local economy at a time when we need it most. The tens of thousands of new patrons that will descend into the City Centre will help relieve some of the pressures felt by small businesses in Downtown, Chinatown, and Gastown. Vancouver can expect to reap the economic benefits of MLS for decades to come.

But more important is soccer's ability to unite people from all different walks of life. Today, the Whitecaps are giving Vancouver one of its first truly multicultural institutions that's inclusive, accessible and comfortable for people of all cultures, races and backgrounds. It's a fine legacy for an organization that has given so much of its time, effort and resources to communities throughout B.C. & Western Canada.

Soccer in Vancouver, B.C. and all of Canada is stronger today than it was yesterday. But it is still a work in progress. For Canada to continue its progress, we need more solid clubs. We need fewer petty territorial squabbles. We need to accept a soccer culture that builds professional excellence. And we need real soccer infrastructure in our country, such as stadiums.

But today is for celebrating the deserved achievements of the Vancouver Whitecaps. It's a chance to look back on all of the good a simple soccer club has done for this city over almost 35 years. And it's a dare to dream about what might be possible in the years ahead.

Today, Vancouver is a “Village” once again.

Yours in Sport,
Bill Currie
Friends of Soccer

[Super Cereal]

teams #19 and #20 in 2012.....nice.
guessing MTL and St Louis.

Did Garber say this? Teams 19 and 20 in 2012?

[rocker]

yes he did say that.

[Super Cereal]

yes he did say that.

Thanks.

Fantastic news as an Ottawa resident!

If Ottawa got a team, I'd get season tickets, and boo the hell out of them whenever Toronto plays there.

[rocker]

Garber just said on Team 1040 in Vancouver that Vancouver paid $35 million USD in cash upfront. So he took less than 40 million. No payment plan.

So he did lower the fee, but not as low as Saputo wanted.

[Pachuco]

So did I read on the footy blog that they will have a stadium with retractable roof? are you kidding? that implies TURF doesn it? Have these guys listened at all on the turf subject? Well atleast European players won't want to go there, and for all we know, we may have grass by then :)

[rocker]

the stadium has turf, but the SSS they plan will have grass.

[Pachuco]

the stadium has turf, but the SSS they plan will have grass.

With a retractable roof? is that even possible?

[kodiakTFC]

#19 & #20 in 2012 = Montreal and New York.

[rocker]

With a retractable roof? is that even possible?

the waterfront SSS they want to build will have a roof that is not retractable. It'll be just a regular roof with a grass field.

The temp stadium (BC Place) will have fieldturf and a roof that can sorta move up and down depending on whether they want to block off the upper deck.
Apparently the Whitecraps have to play in BC Place until 2016 according to their lease.

[dupont]

Garber just said on Team 1040 in Vancouver that Vancouver paid $35 million USD in cash upfront. So he took less than 40 million. No payment plan.

This makes me think that if Saputo was just a bit more reserved in his criticism and just stayed quiet that maybe the league would have reconsidered the Montreal bid.

[Pachuco]

the waterfront SSS they want to build will have a roof that is not retractable. It'll be just a regular roof with a grass field.

The temp stadium (BC Place) will have fieldturf and a roof that can sorta move up and down depending on whether they want to block off the upper deck.
Apparently the Whitecraps have to play in BC Place until 2016 according to their lease.

Ahhh ok. Gotcha. So there are two different stadiums. Missed that part. Thanks!

[billyfly]

Lenarduzzi says Vancouver is a better soccer market than Toronto.. ;)

So let it begin.....( ominous thunder)

[Pachuco]

This makes me think that if Saputo was just a bit more reserved in his criticism and just stayed quiet that maybe the league would have reconsidered the Montreal bid.

It's better this way. Montreal can rot in the USL. Oh and guess what? They'll be playing 2 teams who are now in the MLS. I know year 1 that didn't matter. But they will find it very tough beating 2 MLS teams (possibly 3 with Ottawa) as the MLS matures.

[drewski]

my message for vancouver's new team/fans...

Don't hate us cause we're better then you. Hate us cause....ummm...n/m, keep hating, cause we are better then you.

[Cashcleaner]

Obviously, this isn't news that we didn't see coming a mile away, but still great to see and hear for ourselves. I really hope this works out for them - Toronto needs a Canadian rival and the benefits for the national team are obvious. Good on Vancouver and I look forward to kicking their asses both at BMO Field and BC Place.

[rocker]

here's the video they showed at the press conference

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVbz36wAyPs

[gtaguy]

with the way montreal handled itself and pissed off everyone in the mls front office I think they have a better chance at joining the mexican or some central american league..
If montreal is really interested in joining the mls i see alot of ass kissing all the way to 2012.... PUKKER UP BIATCHESS.... BY THE WAY F.U lenarduzzi ps: THE IMPACT ARE SHITE !!!

[Stryker]

I think in getting Vancouver we won a major battle.
If we can get ethier Montreal or Ottawa for 2012 then we'll have won the war.

[Cashcleaner]

^ I see where you're going, but I think we would have won the war when each and every Canadian team is dominating the league both on the pitch and in the attendance records.

[NF-FC]

Did anyone else notice that the scarves they were wearing said "MLS 08" on them? I wonder if they were leftovers from San Jose

[TorCanSoc]

WORLD CUP 2014 ANYONE?!!!! Awesome news!

[Vancouver MLS]

ah shutup!!!!!

[billyfly]

^?

And who are you referring to?

[Dirk Diggler]

teams #19 and #20 in 2012.....nice.
guessing MTL and St Louis.


Any reason why most people are guessing that MTL and STL will occupy the 19th and 20th spot? And what about the 18th spot? Did Don drop a hint as tho who he might be considering?

[Vindaloo]

Lenarduzzi said that they will not be giving up the Caps' developmental system saying this is how the rest of the world does it - pro clubs develop their players - and he went on to say MLS is possibly looking at replicating the Whitecaps system for other MLS clubs. Garber confirmed this as well after the news conference too.

[ACSertL]

Lenarduzzi said that they will not be giving up the Caps' developmental system saying this is how the rest of the world does it - pro clubs develop their players - and he went on to say MLS is possibly looking at replicating the Whitecaps system for other MLS clubs. Garber confirmed this as well after the news conference too.

I hope that means they will bring back the reserve league.

[Pachuco]

Lenarduzzi said that they will not be giving up the Caps' developmental system saying this is how the rest of the world does it - pro clubs develop their players - and he went on to say MLS is possibly looking at replicating the Whitecaps system for other MLS clubs. Garber confirmed this as well after the news conference too.

I'm curious, what is so special about their system? not asking sarcastically, I actually don't know anything about their development system.

[gbrizett]

Lenarduzzi says Vancouver is a better soccer market than Toronto.. ;)

Tiny dick syndrome. What else is new?

[SilverSamurai]

Awesome.
Too bad they're gonna lose to TFC.
Road trip anyone?
Imagine starting off the season out west? ;)
We have 2 years to plan!

[brad]

Great potential for a rivalry between them and Seattle as well.

[Vancouver MLS]

Portland will be confirmed as Team # 18 at a Press conference Friday morning at 9:30 at the Hilton Portland.

They're expecting hundreds from the Timbers Army there; that should be wild

[leroy]

Excellent

http://www.ramblestrip.com/mrburns.gif

[nfitz]

Wow, that's a great Pacific northwest cluster. Great rivalries! Should be good for the league, and the game.

[T_Mizz]

Now that 2 more teams are expected for 2012 do you guys know at what point it will be capped off?
That is it if we want to conform to FIFA's rules, beyond 20 we'd need a second league with relegation etc.

[Oldtimer]

Hear that exploding sound?

It's Bill Archers head exploding in anger!!! :lol:

[TFC07]

LOL @ Vancouver supporters!

_Y9VzvTaf50

[dclaro]

don't know if this was posted or not, but apparently Vancouver only paid $35 million, not $40million

http://www.team1040.ca/news/story/?id=1852

[rocker]

LOL @ Vancouver supporters!

_Y9VzvTaf50

that's not cool.. i hope few Vancouverites saw that or they will stay away from BC Place.

[GBV]

great news but BC Place?
another aesthetic eyesore for mls on television.

[flatpicker]

that's not cool.. i hope few Vancouverites saw that or they will stay away from BC Place.


I got 5 secs into that first supporter talking and I had to switch it off!

yikes!

[Cashcleaner]

LOL @ Vancouver supporters!

_Y9VzvTaf50

Those Southsiders are kinda creepy.

And when I mean "kinda" I mean "really".

[billyfly]

BT. Another copy of a Toronto idea.

[ginkster88]

great news but BC Place?
another aesthetic eyesore for mls on television.

Not likely after the Olympic upgrade...

[celt-nick]

that's not cool.. i hope few Vancouverites saw that or they will stay away from BC Place.


Its gotta be some sort of a joke to get other Vancouverites to come out and represent/support - so those guys don't become what the world thinks of as Van-City football supporters.....Bad Ernie?!?!?!......wow...

[BosakWBC]

Anybody else notice on the rendering they showed of the new stadium the Whitecaps are playing TFC, i just noticed the scoreboard on the news.

if you're wondering it's 0-0

[TorCanSoc]

LOL @ Vancouver supporters!

_Y9VzvTaf50

Host: How many of you are there in the South Siders?

Front idiot: Oh we're about 20-25 of us.


Phk me. Lie for god sakes. 20-25 strong. Ba ha hah ah aha hahahaha. Jeeziz. That guy seems socially retarded.

[TorCanSoc]

Its gotta be some sort of a joke to get other Vancouverites to come out and represent/support - so those guys don't become what the world thinks of as Van-City football supporters.....Bad Ernie?!?!?!......wow...


Oh yeah! Bad ernie!!!! Holy crap. Man there has to be a new scale of douche for this guy. I kind of feel sorry for him. I really do.

[GBV]

Not likely after the Olympic upgrade...

all the polishing in the world ain't gonna make it look any better on tv for a soccer game unless they rip off the roof and make it a more MLS-friendly size. :noidea:

[Marco2K]

What a bunch of geeks

[GBV]

all the polishing in the world ain't gonna make it look any better on tv for a soccer game unless they rip off the roof and make it a more MLS-friendly size. :noidea:

hmmmm maybe there is hope:

BC Place Stadium

The new BC Place stadium will be our home when we launch for the 2011 season.

When the renovations are complete, BC Place will allow our fans to experience soccer the way it was meant to be experienced - in an intimate atmosphere, with seating close to the pitch, and an open-air roof for balmy summer nights.

Seating capacity for soccer matches will be approximately 20,000.

BC Place is located at 777 Pacific Blvd., Vancouver.

For more information on BC Place, and images and updates about the renovations currently taking place there, please visit bcplacestadium.com.

[drewski]

with the lowered roof, cut off end seats and "lounges" brought in over the football endzones, it looks like BC place might be a good (not great) soccer place

http://www.bcplacestadium.com/newsreleases/WC_Vision_2011.jpg

I did see one unbelievable thing though, they think they'll beat us 3-0....let alone before the half.

here's the football setup for reference

http://www.bcplacestadium.com/images/roofinterior.jpg

[Sab0tage]

Host: How many of you are there in the South Siders?

Front idiot: Oh we're about 20-25 of us.


Phk me. Lie for god sakes. 20-25 strong. Ba ha hah ah aha hahahaha. Jeeziz. That guy seems socially retarded. Haha, that video is awesome. There's already people talking shit about Vancouver on Big Soccer. ;)

[celt-nick]

LOL.....They're going to be so fun to hate!;)

[Jack]

LOL @ Vancouver supporters!

_Y9VzvTaf50
Are these guys actually allowed out of their mothers' basements, or was this filmed on location?

[Sonny Cheeba]

holy shit those dudes are awesome. that should be a lesson to all tv hosts, never ask 3 people to sing a football chant.

3 hot girls, sure.

[mighty_torontofc_2008]

#19 & #20 in 2012 = Montreal and New York.


Montreal fried themseleves they have no shot for the immediate future..If it does come down to another Canadian team in 2012..it will be Ottawa!!

[Sab0tage]

Montreal fried themseleves they have no shot for the immediate future..If it does come down to another Canadian team in 2012..it will be Ottawa!! They still have a chance. If Saputo told MLS he'd be willing to pay the expansion entry fee they'd put Montreal back as an immediate favourite.

[Jack]

Montreal fried themseleves they have no shot for the immediate future..If it does come down to another Canadian team in 2012..it will be Ottawa!!
That would be a huge mistake.


I'm not sure Vancouver already isn't. I hope this works out.

[Super Cereal]

That would be a huge mistake.

Hardly.

[Ossington Mental Youth]

They still have a chance. If Saputo told MLS he'd be willing to pay the expansion entry fee they'd put Montreal back as an immediate favourite.

i think he'd have to kiss a little ass and admit he was wrong but yes for sure, i hope they still make it

[nfitz]

So what were Vancouver audiences like in NASL days. Hmm, for that matter, what were Blizzard audiences like?

[jloome]

That would be a huge mistake.


I'm not sure Vancouver already isn't. I hope this works out.

It will.

The die is cast. It's not about Toronto. It's about the sleepers who've loved soccer for years finally thinking it's at a sufficient professional level in north American now to support it. You could put a team in Halifax and they'd probably get 10,000 season ticket holders.

[rocker]

can't do worse than KC, Columbus, Colorado, FC Dallas, Chivas...!

while every expansion involves some risk, i still think the worst case scenario for Vancouver is 16000 attendance a game, and that would put them in the middle of the league.

[Beach_Red]

It will.

The die is cast. It's not about Toronto. It's about the sleepers who've loved soccer for years finally thinking it's at a sufficient professional level in north American now to support it. You could put a team in Halifax and they'd probably get 10,000 season ticket holders.

Yes, I think this is true.

[NF-FC]

LOL @ Vancouver supporters!

_Y9VzvTaf50

It's a good thing nobody watches Breakfast Television

[shawn6597]

It will.

The die is cast. It's not about Toronto. It's about the sleepers who've loved soccer for years finally thinking it's at a sufficient professional level in north American now to support it. You could put a team in Halifax and they'd probably get 10,000 season ticket holders.

agreed 100% that the die has been cast, yet that die involves a centralized stadium. With that being said, with the chosen location in kanata, i dont see a city like Ottawa reaching SSH numbers that approach 10,000

but hey wtf do i know...

[Benficachop20]

wow its hard to watch that vid

[tfcleeds]

Those 3 guys make the Hudson Street Hooligans actually seem cool...

[Yeoman]

If Vancouver gets the waterfront stadium, how long before the CMNT moves out there?

from last i've heard from people in the know, the waterfront stadium has been put on hold.

[Jack]

If those guys represent the footy support in Vancouver...well...

LOL

I still don't see Ottawa as being a viable MLS city, but hey, I've been wrong before. If I'm wrong on this one, I'll say so, but until then, I will continue to think putting an MLS team in Ottawa is stupid bandwagoneering.

Vancouver is a city that likes to think it's big...it's amazing how people from Vancouver never fail to point out how laid back they are. Frenetically so. Then they continually point out how much better Vancouver is than Toronto. Lame. Vancouver blows.

Vancouver, good luck, but seriously...I see this as a joke. Joke fans, joke team and Bob Lenarduzzi's a joke, too, while we're at it.

[BC101]

LOL I hate Vancouver's MLS franchise already.

"we're blue we're white"
What the fuck? seriously LMFAO. I don't care for the "We're red we're white" chant i sometimes hear around BMO but that one sounds even worse LOL. Bag Douches.

[Canadian Blue]

stupid to expand in this economic state........what they should be doing is moving teams out of the unprofitable areas

[troy1982]

stupid to expand in this economic state........what they should be doing is moving teams out of the unprofitable areas

The new teams start in 2 years, no need to worry about a recession then.

[James17930]

Here's their promo vid -- gotta say, pretty well done . . . playing up on the history of the Caps:

pVbz36wAyPs

[drewski]

stupid to expand in this economic state........what they should be doing is moving teams out of the unprofitable areas


actually it might be a great time. with all the infrastructure money flowing from the governments, not only is there a better chance to get money for the stadium, but also other improvements to the area, like transit, roads, etc.

[greatwhitenorf]

Nice to see this become official but I'm skeptical about the Caps planned move to a new waterfront stadium. A lot of money is being spent to improve BC Place and it would seem logical that they'll want the soccer team in there for the long haul in order to recoup it. Provincial money going into the stadium upgrade could create long-term difficulties in getting approvals for building a new ground.l

Kinda silly artist rendering showing no supporters sections behind the goal, but rather posh field level suites full of Biffs and Barbies. And what's with the big mob of people standing along the sidelines, blocking the view of fans seated in lower rows?

And isn't the roof a little low? Likely to have 'keepers kicks bouncing off it.

All in all, great to see Vancouver in, creating several great rivalries. Whether or not Lenarduzzi's right when he says they are a better soccer market than here, the fact remains that the Whitecaps name has endured through good times and not-so-good and fans there have kept faith with it. This will be a very successful team and will put a big shiver into the CFL, where they really need the Lions to stay healthy.

[gmacpheetfc]

DOn't know if this was posted already but
SPORTSNET JUST STATED THAT VANCOUVER ONLY PAID 35 Million can anyone confirm this?

[drewski]

DOn't know if this was posted already but
SPORTSNET JUST STATED THAT VANCOUVER ONLY PAID 35 Million can anyone confirm this?

supposedly Garber said it on the radio


Garber just said on Team 1040 in Vancouver that Vancouver paid $35 million USD in cash upfront. So he took less than 40 million. No payment plan.

[olegunnar]

DOn't know if this was posted already but
SPORTSNET JUST STATED THAT VANCOUVER ONLY PAID 35 Million can anyone confirm this?

I wonder what impact (pun intended) the residency/acedemy issues had on the expansion fee being lowered.

If there was a breakdown of costs and the acedemy set up was part fo that cost it would seem to be Vancouver wouldn't need to pay that cost if they're keeping their own system intact.

[rocker]

Kinda silly artist rendering showing no supporters sections behind the goal, but rather posh field level suites full of Biffs and Barbies. And what's with the big mob of people standing along the sidelines, blocking the view of fans seated in lower rows?
And isn't the roof a little low? Likely to have 'keepers kicks bouncing off it.


don't read too much into the artist's rendition of the possible Waterfront stadium. :)

That drawing has been around for years now, as they've been working on this project for, I think, 5 years. That drawing was also made when they planned the stadium to have 15000 seats. The newer plans were for more seats than that (I think 20000 minimum).

I would think people would be quite happy with Vancouver's stadium plan, given it has grass, 20000 seats, and a roof. Their stadium plan is better than Saputo's expansion plan.

I do agree that there may be some reluctancy to lose the Whitecaps to Waterfront stadium from the government. I hope there's no "behind the scenes" bullshit to prevent the Whitecaps from ever building it there so they have to extend their BC place lease.. But they could easily threaten to build somewhere else in the city too, and the province, which owns BC Place, would be shit outta luck anyways. The great thing is Kerfoot would build it with his own cash, so he never has to come begging.

And I finish my message with: Fuck the Shitecaps!!! :)

[drewski]

I think he was referring to the BC Place soccer setup

http://www.bcplacestadium.com/newsreleases/WC_Vision_2011.jpg



since he mentioned the low roof being a problem, which it wouldn't' be going by the waterfront stadium sketch


http://www.whitecapsfc.com/files/Images/Stadium/renderings/renderings_soccer.jpg

[drewski]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=629173&sec=mls&root=mls&cc=5901