Vancouver is one of my favourite cities, as it is for many people. But is it a soccer city? That question will be soon answered as the Vancouver Whitecaps join America’s MLS as its new franchise in March. That is in spite of the fact that last season they played in America’s answer to the English conference.
In the heyday of the NASL the Whitecaps attracted big name players, among them Alan Ball, Terry Yorath and Peter Beardsley. But when the league folded, they dropped down the pyramid to keep their name alive.
Vancouver is one of my favourite cities, as it is for many people. But is it a soccer city? That question will be soon answered as the Vancouver Whitecaps join America’s MLS as its new franchise in March. That is in spite of the fact that last season they played in America’s answer to the English conference.
In the heyday of the NASL the Whitecaps attracted big name players, among them Alan Ball, Terry Yorath and Peter Beardsley. But when the league folded, they dropped down the pyramid to keep their name alive.
They will be moving from a ground that holds 5,288 to the BC Place Olympic Stadium. They plan to lower the new roof to create an ‘intimate soccer atmosphere’. Vancouver native and Whitecaps supemo Bob Lenarduzzi is confident about their ability to pull in the crowds. He recalls, ‘When I played for the Whitecaps in the 1980s our average attendance was 28,000.’ He won 47 caps, went on to play for Reading in England, and managed the Canadian national side.
The Whitecaps have already taken 16,000 season ticket deposits. MLS has given Vancouver an ‘expansion draft’ which effectively gives them permission to raid the squads of other teams in the league. The MLS knows that a new team has to hit the ground running if it is to pull in the crowds. The Whitecaps aim to make the play offs in their first year.
As a hockey as well as a football fan, I know that hockey is the #1 game in Canada. But the example of Toronto shows that a MLS club can make the grade in Toronto. Indeed, the Toronto club is more like some traditional English clubs than some of the teams in the US. Expats are part of that story and Vancouver has its share, although the city has a significant population of Asian origin.
I am tempted to make another trip to Vancouver before too long!