EXCERPTS FROM LETTERS OF SUPPORT

"As Premier of the Province of British Columbia, I am pleased to support the efforts of the Vancouver Whitecaps to secure a Major League Soccer franchise. The Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club has been a longstanding and impressive professional soccer organization with a very clear commitment to the growth of the sport in our province. . .  The Whitecaps Football Club is part of the Vancouver brand. The Club has had stable ownership and solid business credibility. I am writing to cofirm my full support of their efforts to bring a MLS franchise to our province." 
Premier Gordon Campbell
Province of British Columbia


"I am excited to offer my support and encouragement for the Vancouver Whitecaps' MLS expansion bid. Throughout their great history the term "Whitecaps" has become synonymous with the sport of soccer in British Columbia. . .  In a sport that holds mass appeal world-wide they are well positioned to take their oganization to the next level and would be a strong asset to MLS. I wish you all the best in this endeavour and look forward to the first Whitecaps MLS game in Vancouver!"
Olga Ilich, MLA
Richmond Centre


"Soccer has a solid base of youth participation in British Columbia and is our fastest growing sport. The leadership shown by the Whitecaps has been instrumental in that growth. . . As a long time supporter, fan and player, I am delighted to offer my support, and I wish you continued success. I look forward to the first Whitecaps MLS game in the newly refurbished BC Place Stadium. Thank you for all you have done for the sport and for our Province."
Gordon Hogg, MLA
Surrey-White Rock


"Please accept my enthusiastic support and encouragement for the Vancouver Whitecaps' MSL expansion bid. The Whitecaps' team memers are great role models for our youth, and their example and successes contribute greatly towards a fit and healthy lifestyle for our young people. . .  The Whitecaps also provide a professional goal to which youngsters can aspire. . .  I look forward to attending the first Vancouver Whitecaps Major League game, and thus wish you every success in this bid.
Dave S. Hayer
MLA Surry - Tynehead
Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism and Immigration


"I am excited to offer my support and encouragement for the Vancouver Whitecaps' MLS expansion bid. . .  It has a been a long held view by all the people of British Columbia that the Whitecaps are an excellent organization and contribute to Vancouver's reputation as a world class city. . .  I wish you all the best in this endeavor and look forward to the first Whitecaps MLS game in Vancouver!"
Joan McIntyre, MLA
West Vancouver - Garibaldi


"In July 2006 Vancouver City Council unanimously endorsed the desirablility of working with the Whitecaps in order to build a stadium in our city. Council remains committed to working with the Whitecaps organization to realize this community asset and in the meantime, we are thrilled that there is an interim home for them in our city at BC Place Stadium. In addition to the social and economic benefits that a professional sports franchise brings to our city, the Whitecaps organization has contributed a great deal to the growth of soccer in the Lower Mainland. . .  It is for these reasons that I fully support the Whitecaps bid to bring Major League Soccer to our city and province." 
Mayor Sam Sullivan
City of Vancouver


"The Vancouver Whitecaps FC has distinguished itself as Western Canada's professional soccer team, and an organization that is extremely committed to soccer at the local, provincial, and national levels. . .  The CSA is thrilled to fully support the Whitecaps bid to bring Major League Soccer to Vancouver, and to expand the MLS presence in Canada."
Peter Montopoli
Secretary General
The Canadian Soccer Association / l'Association Canadienne de Soccer


"I am writing on behalf of the more than 150,000 registered playes, coaches, officials and volunteers involved in the game of soccer - and the close to half million British Columbians engaged in the sport through their families - to support the application by Whitecaps FC to bring Major League Soccer (MLS) to Vancouver and British Columbia. . .  You will be bringing MLS to a province which has the higest per capita soccer participation in Canada. The new MLS Whitecaps FC will take root in the country's second-largest English language media and broadcast market and in a multicultural marketplace, which serves as Canada's Pacific Gateway. . .  We strongly support the MLS bid by Whitecaps FC, because we know what it will do for the promotion and development of our game. . .  We are excited about the arrival of Seattle Sounders FC in 2009 and we cannot wait for the launch of our own BC franchise: the new Whitecaps FC in MLS."
Steve Reed, President
Board of Directors
British Columbia Soccer Association


"On behalf of the British Columbia Soccer Association, the provincial governing body responsible for the promotion and development of soccer in BC, I am writing in strong support of the application by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC to bring Major League Soccer (MLS) to the west coast of Canada. We do so . . . out of unequivocal support and admiration for the wide-ranging commitments the existing franchise has made to help promote our sport at all levels. . .  As partners of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the MLS can count on our cooperation and rely on our BC soccer community to embrace the new MLS Whitecaps FC in the same way that Toronto FC has been supported in your successful launch there. Consider the Canadian rivalry ON!"
Bjorn Osieck,
Chief Executive Officer
British Columbia Soccer Association


"On behalf of the Greater Vancouver Convention & Visitors Bureau we are pleased to offer this letter in support of the Vancouver Whitecaps bid to bring a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise to the city in the near future. . .  The Whitecaps organization continues to be a huge part of the community both on and off the soccer field. Recent commitments to training facilities and the introduction of residency programs. . . shows the commitment that the organization has made to the game both in Vancouver and throughout Canada. . . We look forward to welcoming Major League Soccer to Vancouver.
Rick Antonson
President, CEO
Tourism Vancouver


"At Tourism BC, we have prioritized both sport tourism and community development as keys to long-term growth. This bid by Vancouver Whitecaps FC provides enhanced value to many of our communities through player development and new venues for training. We are very excited about the future of tourism, and for the role that MLS soccer may play in our industry's growth."
Ray LeBlond
Director, Corporate Development and Commnications
Tourism British Columbia


"The Whitecaps Football Club has demonstrated a clearly articulated vision and commitment to grow the sport of soccer in BC and Canada. The ownership is stable, has business credibility, and displays a strong comitment to the community and to soccer. . . . The Vancouver Whitecaps FC is a very professional organization on and off the field and we strongly support their bid to bring a Major League Soccer team to Vancouver and to BC Place."
Warren Buckley,
President and CEO
PavCO - BC Pavillion Corporation


"The Whitecaps have been an integral part of the Vancouver and British Columbia Communities for many years. Not only do they play a role in stimulating the economy and business community in the Metro Vancouver area, they are also very involved in the growth of the sport of soccer in the community at all levels. The Vancouver Board of Trade, with over 5800 members, is very supportive of the Whitecaps' bid to bring Major League Soccer to Meto Vancouver and British Columbia."
Darcy Rezac
Managing Director and Chief Engagement Officer
The Vancouver Board of Trade


"Today, I am writing to let you know that we are throwing in our complete support solely behind the efforts of Greg Kerfoot, Steve Nash, and Bob Lenarduzzi to bring Major League Soccer to Vancouver for 2011. I believe Vancouver's long history of soccer culture, along with the positive vision of the current Whitecaps orginization, creates a natural fit for MLS. . . Soccer is, above all else, about building community. On this front, the Whitecaps have gone well beyond the call of duty as servants of the game. We hope that you'll grant soccer fans in BC our wish to see the Whitecaps take on the best of MLS in BC Place come 2011. Vancouver would be excited and honoured to become part of Major League Soccer."
Bill Currie
Friends of Soccer


"For nearly 35 years Vancouver Whitecaps FC have been long-time contributors to the Greater Vancouver community, and we are excited to see the club move into a renovated BC Place in Downtown Vancouver in 2011. It is for these reasons the DVA is proud to support the Vancouver Whitecaps FC bid to bring Major League Soccer, a world class sports league to Vancouver, a world class city." 
Peter Jackman
President
Downtown Vancouver Association


"Downtown Vancouver is the best location for sporting events and the facilities that host them. . . It is for all these reasons combined with the demonstrated leadership and strong business acumen at the helm of the Whitecaps FC that the DVBIA fully supports the Whitecaps FC's bid to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to Vancouver."
Charles Gauthier
Executive Director
Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association