By BOB MACKIN
The Vancouver Whitecaps' rabid South Siders from Swangard Stadium's end zone could become B.C. Place Stadium East Siders in 2011.
An artist's rendering, released yesterday, shows an intimate 22,000-seat configuration for soccer using only level two. Level four is draped off. A new scoreboard appears suspended above centre field. There are seats closer to the action on floor level. The west end zone is a corporate hospitality area while the east end zone features fans sitting and standing behind the goal.
The $65 million, pre-Olympic stadium renovation began in September. The air-supported fabric roof will be replaced after the Games with a German retractable system. The Whitecaps hope to move downtown and play in Major League Soccer in 2011. Vancouver's expansion bid was submitted last month against six other cities.
The original NASL Vancouver Whitecaps played in the dome's first sporting event on June 20, 1983.
