Jump to content

Whitecaps National Soccer Development Centre


Recommended Posts

There's a great article in today's Vancouver Sun about the Whitecaps' proposed National Soccer Development Centre in Delta:

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/SOCCER+elaborate+soccer+centre+planned+Delta+promises+attract+world+class+teams+perhaps+produce+world+class+players/1622038/story.html

Now that all of the election bashing is over, it's good to see a nice, sober look at what the Caps are actually trying to accomplish here. The article also reveals that Everton will not be playing the Caps this summer due to a lack of professional training facilities.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Whitecaps continue to build their club from the ground up ever since Greg Kerfoot took over. This is just another step in that direction, and it will help in their eventual attainment of the title of best club in MLS.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 weeks later...

That is unbelievable! I'm blown away by the ambition of the Whitecaps.

It's beginning to look like the non-building of the Gastown stadium (caused by Vancouver politicians) is a good thing, not a bad one. BMO field is already too small for Toronto FC, and Saputo made a mistake in making his Mtl stadium too small for MLS. The Caps will almost certainly draw 30,000 or more every game in BC Place, which gives them 50% more gate revenue than Toronto. With the changes to BC Place, the stadium should look and feel modern for some time to come.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

quote:Originally posted by seathanaich

That is unbelievable! I'm blown away by the ambition of the Whitecaps.

It's beginning to look like the non-building of the Gastown stadium (caused by Vancouver politicians) is a good thing, not a bad one. BMO field is already too small for Toronto FC, and Saputo made a mistake in making his Mtl stadium too small for MLS. The Caps will almost certainly draw 30,000 or more every game in BC Place, which gives them 50% more gate revenue than Toronto. With the changes to BC Place, the stadium should look and feel modern for some time to come.

I thought the new Dome at BC Place will drop down and reduce the seating to 22 000 seats for the Whitecaps, not 30 000.

Maybe I missed it, but I'm not even sure the Caps have sold all their Season's tickets yet (of course, still early days).

Regardless, the Stadium will be incredible, I don't see why BC Place can't be the permanant home of the Caps given the investment in the dome. We'll wait and see if MLS will waver on that rule once the stadium is complete.

Once BMO get the new practice facility going, they can do what they want with BMO Field, and the way it looks, they can expand the existing stadium by 8000 seats (to about 28-29 000 seats) without having to tear the existing structure down.

Still think BMO needs a roof...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

quote:Originally posted by Vic

"National Soccer Development Centre"

Surely the International World Football Headquarters would be a much more appropriate name.

TFC Academy only has a U-16 & U-18 team...not enough to establish a truly "National" development centre.

I know some CSL teams have been affiliating with local soccer clubs, as far down as the U-5 level. The TFC Academy really should try to affiliate with a local youth club, until they develop their own capacity.

I know Danny Dichio has been appointed the technical director of the Thornhill Soccer Club. The club has 14 age groups from the U-4 all the way to the U-18 level, boys and girls.

For me, the TFC Academy is just not a "real" youth development program if they only recruit from the U-16 level and up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

quote:Originally posted by kyam

I thought the new Dome at BC Place will drop down and reduce the seating to 22 000 seats for the Whitecaps, not 30 000.

Maybe I missed it, but I'm not even sure the Caps have sold all their Season's tickets yet (of course, still early days).

Regardless, the Stadium will be incredible, I don't see why BC Place can't be the permanant home of the Caps given the investment in the dome. We'll wait and see if MLS will waver on that rule once the stadium is complete.

Once BMO get the new practice facility going, they can do what they want with BMO Field, and the way it looks, they can expand the existing stadium by 8000 seats (to about 28-29 000 seats) without having to tear the existing structure down.

Still think BMO needs a roof...

The Waterfront Stadium could potentially hold 30,000 too. But it would be a grass pitch, and in a setting so perfect, the stadium would attract as many fans as the team.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

quote:Originally posted by Calgary Boomer

BMO is also a Waterfront Stadium and I notice that when the wind is strong, it affects the game significantly due to the lake effect of the wind. Wouldn't the Waterfront Stadium for the Caps have the same problem?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Kyam:

If seating is going to be reduced to 22K in BC Place, that sounds like lower bowl only and one or both end zones closed off. As soon as that sells regularly though, you can expect to see the closed end zone(s) opened, and the centre of the upper bowl on one side. I think the lower bowl total is 32K.

I didn't know that BMO had been designed to be expanded. That's what I would have done. I'd have built a 30K right off the start though, expandable to 40K, with the Argos on board too.

And yes, all stadiums need a roof over the fans. If I were King for a Day . . .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 years later...

Last I heard Whitecaps were waiting on soil test results for the Burnaby Lake location but the process was deleyed somewhat when UBC popped up with an expression of interest. Personally I think Burnaby Lake would be a preferable option, much more central and accessible but it probably depends on what UBC puts on the table.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

TFor me, the TFC Academy is just not a "real" youth development program if they only recruit from the U-16 level and up.

Give them time guys, give them some time. I'm sure once the U16 draw is there the other 2 Canadian clubs will stretch their reach lower and lower. Look who is running TFC and where is he from? What age do they go to in that country?

Give it some time and TFC and possibly the Impact will be having the whole vertical integration thing going from 6-20.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...