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Will the Whitecaps play ANY games at BC Place in 2011?


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Read in 24hrs Vancouver this morning (hardcopy--couldn't find a web link to the story) that PavCo is talking about BC Place being ready in the FALL of 2011. Incredible! What was supposed to be ready for First Kick 2011, may not even be ready for Last Kick 2011. Not the start-with-a-bang we had envisioned for MLS 2011. Hope the Caps get a decent pitch at Empire Stadium (without throwball lines) because we may be there all year. Maybe they're just hedging their bets and the Caps will indeed be in BC Place by the summer---let's hope so.

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Sorry guys but this is old news. When the BC Place roof was confirmed (the last time), they said that the goal was for the stadium to be ready by Grey Cup 2011. Lenarduzzi said that there are bonuses for the stadium to be done sooner but it was never going to be before July. I drove by Empire Fields the other day and fences have already been set up for construction of the temporary stadium. It should be ready in 3-4 months as the Lions will be playing the 2010 CFL season there. The Whitecaps are happy to be starting their MLS life at Empire as they can play off the nostalgia factor. They also think it gives them 2 'openings'; one at Empire and one at BC Place. I do not share their enthusiasm.

With regards to the pitch at Empire, they will be laying down the old BC Place turf which is awful. There are no football lines. It is the turf itself that is the problem. Lenarduzzi said they are in discussions with Pavco to have the pitch changed for the start of their 2011 season. I doubt much will come of this though.

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  • 1 month later...
Well that's probably the pointyball franchise's doing to have the turf brought in. Honestly, pointyball is the major competitor for the growth of soccer in this country. It's the major obstacle as well.

Funnily enough the 'other pointy ball game' Rugby is quick to give soccer a hard time in the UK. Always presenting itself as a squeaky clean game played by gentlemen and not little oiks and ruffians from the council estates. At least until 'Bloodgate' that is

Looking at the substantial nature of the Empire Park. Do the caps really want to follow the Lions into the Dome?

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Looking at the substantial nature of the Empire Park. Do the caps really want to follow the Lions into the Dome?

Yes they do. It will not be a dome by the time they get there, retractable roof remember?. It will be in a more fan friendly location (public transit, downtown pubs etc). The amenities of BC Place will most likely kick ass over anything a temporary stadium has to offer (washroom facilities). Plus the capacity is way bigger so if the Whitecaps draw more than expected then they have the ability to get more bums in seats.

I'm totally in favour of their own waterfront stadium and would rather watch games there on a nice natural surface... but BC Place is a fine alternative for now.

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Yes they do. It will not be a dome by the time they get there, retractable roof remember?. It will be in a more fan friendly location (public transit, downtown pubs etc). The amenities of BC Place will most likely kick ass over anything a temporary stadium has to offer (washroom facilities). Plus the capacity is way bigger so if the Whitecaps draw more than expected then they have the ability to get more bums in seats.

I'm totally in favour of their own waterfront stadium and would rather watch games there on a nice natural surface... but BC Place is a fine alternative for now.

Thanks for that. I was Lead to Believe that EP was the Ancestral Home of the Caps and Returning their was a bit Like Charltons Exodus and Return to the Valley. Still this was told this from a guy in Fort Saskatchewan.

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Crosley said BC Place operator PavCo is close to a deal that would see the Whitecaps commit to playing in the renovated facility for 15 years, meaning the team’s vision of playing in a soccer-specific Vancouver waterfront stadium couldn’t happen until 2025.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Lions+Empire+Fields+takes+Stadium+shape/2967969/story.html#ixzz0mY1NszL7

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Crosley said BC Place operator PavCo is close to a deal that would see the Whitecaps commit to playing in the renovated facility for 15 years, meaning the team’s vision of playing in a soccer-specific Vancouver waterfront stadium couldn’t happen until 2025.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Lions+Empire+Fields+takes+Stadium+shape/2967969/story.html#ixzz0mY1NszL7

Disappointing if this is true. 15 years on field turf is going to suck. Especially after seeing what happened to the field at BMO. I hope they can figure a way to put natural grass now that it will be a retractable roof.

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To be prefectly honest as someone who is only 22 and has never got to watch a game on Empire/PNE grounds. I for one am not too dissapointed about BC place being slightly behind, when does stadium contrustion ever finish on time? The fact they are only a couple months behind is good. Anyways as a younger era Caps fan, I personally can't wait to get to watch games at Empire I think the pictures look great, so far I believe it's gona be a pretty sweet place to watch Football and Canadian Football for a season. BC place is gonna be done sooner or later, but for us who never got to watch classic NASL at Empire this is gonna be a once in a lifetime chance to re-live some of those great years and memories. I'm hoping a beer chug corner kick is in order, lol.

I can't wait to watch some Lions football outside as well I think thats gonna be pretty cool as, well.

Our Temporary stadium is gonna be as good as quality as most the MLS permanent stadiums, so nothing to worry about. Then they will get to move into probably the Premier Dome in NA.

EDIT: Plus the back drop of the PNE will look pretty sweet on the TV.

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