No new stadium, no MLS expansion here

November 14, 2007

The Vancouver Whitecaps won't be included in Major League Soccer's expansion plans -- at least in the foreseeable future -- unless the team has a proper stadium in which to play, says MLS commissioner Don Garber.

Speaking from Seattle, where he announced earlier Tuesday that a still-to-be-named Seattle expansion franchise will join MLS in 2009, Garber said that until the Whitecaps have a stadium plan in place "we are unable to make any commitments to Vancouver."

As things stand now, the Whitecaps may already be out of the running to join North America's premier soccer circuit.

Garber, who has visited Vancouver and met with Whitecaps officials including team owner Greg Kerfoot, described the city as "a wonderful soccer market that has had a lot of success in soccer." But he stressed that Vancouver must have a proper stadium to be considered for MLS expansion.

"The key for Vancouver is being sure they have a stadium plan," Garber said. "It's the third leg of the stool to give the city an opportunity to be part of the mix in future MLS expansion."

MLS will add a 14th franchise, the reborn San Jose Earthquakes, in 2008. Garber said the league hopes to add a 16th franchise by the end of this year before Seattle comes aboard in 2009.

MLS has long-range plans for 17th and 18th franchises, but Garber said no timeline has been placed on that expansion.

"Many cities across the United States, plus Montreal, have indicated interest in becoming the 17th and 18th franchises," Garber said. "We would give priority to the cities that have proper stadiums and the right business plans. Vancouver can only get into that mix with a proper stadium."

The Whitecaps announced in October 2005 their plans to build Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium, a planned 15,000-seat facility on Vancouver's waterfront in the Gastown area. The cost of the stadium will be covered by Kerfoot. But Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi said the stadium project has been delayed by slow-moving negotiations with the Vancouver Port Authority on "a number of issues."

"We're not moving along as quickly as we need to be on this project," said Lenarduzzi. "A proper stadium here is the issue with MLS. I don't know how it can be put any stronger than Don Garber did today."

Lenarduzzi said that negotiations have been so slow with the Port Authority that the Whitecaps can't put a firm timeline on completion of the stadium.

"The best-case scenario now is sometime in 2011," he said.

Garber said that might be too late for the Whitecaps to be considered as an MLS expansion team.

"Two of the many cities that Vancouver is competing with for an expansion franchise are Portland and Montreal," said Garber. "Both of those cities are in the mix because they have stadium plans in place. It's hard to imagine Vancouver being part of MLS without a proper stadium."

The stadium project will go to Vancouver city council for final approval after the Whitecaps' negotiations with the Port Authority have successfully concluded. City councillor Suzanne Anton said she will urge council to act quickly on final approval.

"Negotiations with the Port Authority are primarily centred on where the stadium will be located," said Anton. "It's not resolved yet, but the process needs to be speeded up. We have a wonderful opportunity here for a first-class facility that will serve many, many purposes, including soccer. I will urge council to move forward quickly on this project."

The Whitecaps currently play in the second-tier United Soccer Leagues First Division at 5,200-seat Swangard Stadium in Burnaby. Swangard Stadium doesn't come close to meeting MLS seating requirements.

"Ideally, we want 18,000 to 27,000-seat stadiums in MLS," said Garber. "That's the appropriate size. But we'd rather be closer to 18,000 because of the intimacy those stadiums have."

The Seattle Sounders will play their final USLFD season in 2008 before the Seattle MLS entry moves into 72,000-seat Qwest Field in 2009. Qwest Field will have a capacity of about 25,000 for MLS games.

Lenarduzzi said moving into 60,000-seat BC Place Stadium is not an option for the Whitecaps, even on a temporary basis as negotiations continue on the waterfront stadium.

"BC Place Stadium is not an option, both financially and as a proper facility," he said. "First impressions with the public are very important. We want a stadium that our fans can identify with, and be comfortable with, from the very first game."

danstinson@shaw.ca
© The Vancouver Sun 2007