MLS Welcomes News of Soccer's Return to BC Place

• Canwest News Service, Friday, May 16, 2008 3:45 PM

The USL-1 Vancouver Whitecaps announced Friday that they will move to BC Place, which will undergo major renovations. The announcement triggered a statement from MLS Commissioner Don Garber, who said Vancouver is a potential MLS expansion city. "There is no doubt the market for professional soccer exists in Vancouver," he said, "as we saw last November when nearly 50,000 fans attended the exhibition match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Whitecaps."

Work on BC Place (the home of the NASL's Whitecaps) will occur in two phases. Renovations to suites, seating, washrooms and concession stands, and enhancement of the existing roof liner will occur before the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. A new retractable roof will be put in place after the 2010 Games.

The Whitecaps currently play at tiny Swangard Stadium in nearby Burnaby. They have previously proposed plans for the construction of a soccer stadium on waterfront property bought by owner Greg Kerfoot.

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