WATERFRONT STADIUM UPDATE

We remain committed and optimistic about the future of a soccer-specific stadium on Downtown Vancouver’s Central Waterfront and Rail Lands.
Our vision for the stadium has remained constant over the last 5 years – a community amenity that is:

· Accessible

· Socially, environmentally and economically sustainable

· Adjacent to the main transportation hub

· A community gathering place

· A home for soccer, rugby, concerts, etc…

We continue to have overwhelming public support throughout Vancouver and the Province

Two critical things need to happen for the stadium to be built:

1. Our relationship with the Port with respect to land use needs to be formalized
2. The City needs to agree that all key requirements are resolvable and provide zoning and development approval

Port:

We have been in discussions with the Vancouver Port Authority for over two years and we are aggressively working with them to negotiate a land use agreement.

As part of the agreement, we are working to finalize an exact footprint for the proposed stadium within the Central Waterfront Port and Rail Lands.

We are confident a deal with the Port is achievable, however, despite many months of negotiation, we have yet to reach an agreement.

In addition to signoff from the Vancouver Port Authority, any land use agreement requires federal approval from the Port’s governing body, Transport Canada. There must be local and federal political will to help solidify and ensure the agreement gets done.

You Can Help

Contact MP John Baird – the federal minister responsible for Transport Canada
and your local MP

and encourage the government to endorse a deal between the Whitecaps and the Port

City:

Once a deal with the Port is established and a stadium footprint is finalized the stadium requires city rezoning and development approvals.

The City has currently identified an 18-month process to complete pre-approvals, rezoning and development permit after completion of the Port deal.

After nearly five years working with the City and a unanimous council vote in July 2006 designating the desirability for and need to make the stadium a priority this timeline should be dramatically reduced.

It is incumbent upon the City to identify an expedited process now so that they are ready to take action as soon as the Port deal is complete.

You Can Help

Contact Mayor Sam Sullivan and Councillor's

and reinforce the need for council to show leadership in establishing a priority timeline for the stadium rezoning and development process.

Facts

Continues to be overwhelming public support for the stadium project.

We are in a very critical time and need the public’s continued support now more than ever.

We have already missed out on a number of high profile events including:

· 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup – limited games

· 2009 World Police & Fire Games

· 2010 Olympics

· 2011 Women’s World Cup