MLS ‘misrepresenting’ Whitecaps’ stadium availability: B.C. Place

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Two days after being publicly criticized about how often B.C. Place is available for the Vancouver Whitecaps, the authority that runs the stadium is pushing back.

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Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber criticized the stadium on Wednesday for offering the Whitecaps a limited selection of playing dates saying they made only 17 dates available for home matches and also for forcing the Whitecaps to play a “home” playoff game last fall on the road.

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Not so fast, B.C. Place officials are saying.

“The statement from the Major League Soccer commissioner that the Whitecaps only receive 17 days to play matches at B.C. Place is a misrepresentation of how many days are made available to the organization,” read a statement provided to Postmedia on Friday morning, attributed to B.C. Place as an organization.

According to B.C. Place, on average more than 40 days are made available each season to the Whitecaps.

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“The Vancouver Whitecaps FC are a valued long-term partner of B.C. Place, and the stadium works closely with the club to ensure their matches and events are a scheduling priority,” the statement continued. “Every year, B.C. Place and the Whitecaps collaborate to establish a calendar that accommodates regular season matches, playoff matches, CONCACAF tournaments and other qualifying competitions.”

The Whitecaps have called the downtown stadium home since late 2011, their first year in MLS.

At the moment, the Whitecaps are scheduled to play 23 games this year at B.C. Place, although if they defeat Forge FC in their two-legged Canadian Championship semi-final, they will host the final, giving them 24 game days.

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On top of those games, B.C. Place points out, the stadium also hosts practices and other media events at the stadium. Those push the Caps beyond 40 events per year.

“The stadium also supports the club in hosting a variety of other activities, such as watch parties, season ticketholder events, stakeholder meetings, film shoots, and other supporting events,” the statement noted.

As for last year’s playoff game which saw the Caps have to play in Portland, even though they were the home team, because of a previously booked motocross event at B.C. Place, stadium officials again pushed back. The league had proposed the Whitecaps host the Portland Timbers on Oct. 23, but that was unavailable because of preparations for the World Supercross Championships, set to take place Oct. 26 at the stadium.

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That the Whitecaps had to play a game on the road that they had earned the right to host was an example Garber cited on Wednesday of why B.C. Place is an “unviable” venue going forward.

According to B.C. Place, they negotiated with officials for the supercross and would have been able to host the Whitecaps vs. Timbers match on Oct. 22. B.C. Place said the club supported the proposed date.

“Unfortunately, the proposed solution was not approved by MLS, and the Whitecaps were required to play the match on the road,” B.C. Place said. “B.C. Place is proud to be the home of Vancouver Whitecaps FC and remains committed to supporting the club’s growth and success now and into the future.”

In a statement on Thursday, the Whitecaps re-iterated that they continue to talk with the City of Vancouver about building a soccer-specific stadium on the grounds of the PNE at Hastings Park. The team hasn’t specifically pointed to the current site of Hastings Racecourse, but the lease for the horse-racing operation there expires next May and most expect that the city will look toward a different use for the property which has hosted horse racing since the 1890s.

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“Vancouver Whitecaps FC can confirm that discussions with the City of Vancouver regarding potential stadium development at the PNE fairgrounds site are progressing,” the team said in its statement. “While the club is taking all necessary action to keep moving this process forward, it is a complex undertaking that can take considerable time. Our objective is to continue to move the project forward as quickly as possible, working with the city, the province, and MLS. At this time, the club has no further updates to share on these conversations with the city.”

If the Whitecaps are able to secure an agreement to build a stadium on the site, they will still need to secure funding for construction — and they still need a new owner. Plus, stadium construction would take several years, so the team will need somewhere to play in the interim, presumably at B.C. Place. The Whitecaps have not commented on the state of negotiations with PavCo.

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“Meanwhile, it is business as usual for Whitecaps FC. We remain focused on extending the great momentum of the season and continuing to invest in and grow the club and Canadian soccer. Whitecaps FC remains grateful for the passionate support of our fans and the broader Vancouver soccer community,” the Whitecaps statement concluded.

The City of Vancouver issued a short statement as well: “The city recognizes the Vancouver Whitecaps as an important part of our community’s cultural and economic vibrancy and is supportive of the Whitecaps staying in Vancouver and exploring feasible options. At this time, the city cannot disclose specific information regarding potential land-use matters or ongoing discussions related to Hastings Park or the Hastings Racecourse property.”

pjohnston@postmedia.com

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