Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium

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Artist's rendering of Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium

Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium is a proposed open-air soccer facility in Vancouver, British Columbia. Located above or on the site of the SeaBus terminal on the Vancouver waterfront (near the Gastown neighbourhood), it would house the Vancouver Whitecaps men and women's soccer clubs.

1 Proposal
2 Controversy
3 Progress
4 Potential Events
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Proposal

The $70-million stadium would have an initial capacity of 15,000, which would be expandable to 30,000 seats, possibly replacing the aging BC Place Stadium, current home of the BC Lions. This stadium would be a large upgrade over Swangard Stadium, the Whitecaps' current field.

In addition to the Vancouver Whitecaps soccer clubs' matches, the stadium could be host to international soccer matches, rugby union matches and tournaments, tennis and beach volleyball tournaments, and open-air musical events and concerts such as the Vancouver International Jazz Festival and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. The stadium would have close access to many modes of public transportation, including the SkyTrain, SeaBus, West Coast Express, and buses.

Initial plans were targeting completion for Summer 2009, although the current approval timeline may make even a 2010 completion date difficult.

[edit] Controversy

Although Vancouver public support for the stadium is high (a Mustel survey found that 71% of Vancouver residents supported the project^[1]), the proposal is inciting protests from several groups, including the Gastown Neighbourhood Coalition, which represents businesses and residents of the nearby historic district. Well-known local architects Arthur Erickson and Bing Thom have also urged caution, saying that piecemeal development of some of Vancouver's last undeveloped waterfront should be avoided. They believe the stadium would deny waterfront access and would negatively impact the historic theme of the Gastown area. The architects have urged city hall to delay approval until a comprehensive plan has been submitted^[2]. Independent architecture firm Hotson Bakker, which was hired by the city of Vancouver, came to the conclusion that the current stadium plans are unworkable. They reported that the development does not fit with the Gastown district and doesn't take future residential developments into account. They also stressed the need for a comprehensive waterfront plan.

A group of local Gastown businesses and residents that support the proposed Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium are represented by Stadium NOW!.

Thousands of Soccer fans and Citizens of Vancouver have also voiced their support for the project through the Friends of Soccer movement

[edit] Progress

On July 11, 2006, Vancouver's city council gave unanimous approval to continue the planning process^[3], provided that certain critical problems are addressed. Specific issues include the lack of roads for spectator and emergency access, and the stadium's location above railroad tracks. The project will be reviewed quarterly by city planners until the stadium's construction is approved; the developers have two years to accomplish this.

On January 22, 2007, the Whitecaps filed a new proposal shifting the proposed site for the stadium project to the current location of the SeaBus terminal, a short distance northwest of the previous site.

On February 1, 2007, Vancouver City Council unanimously endorsed a city staff report which identifies a process to potentially resolve the proposed Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium’s five key requirements set out by City Council. In addition, the staff report outlined a procedure to integrate the stadium with the Waterfront Hub Study.

[edit] Potential Events

[edit] 2010 Winter Olympics

Although not originally planned as a part of the 2010 Winter Olympics, if the stadium achieves pre-Olympic completion, it could play host to cultural events and concerts, or even medal ceremonies.

[edit] 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup

Canada is expected to mount a bid for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. As home to one of the top Women's soccer clubs in the world (source [1]), Vancouver would be the favourite to host the World Cup Final.

[edit] 2018 FIFA World Cup

Canada is expected to mount a bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup. A Vancouver stadium is integral to the bid; the Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium could fill the role of a competition venue. However, to meet FIFA requirements, capacity would have to exceed 40,000 seats.