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

Mail
Mayor and Council
City of Vancouver
453 West 12th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Y 1V4

Phone: 604.873.7011
Email: mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca

WHITECAPS WATERFRONT STADIUM - VISION

After purchasing Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2002, Greg Kerfoot had a vision for the future of soccer in British Columbia and Canada. At the heart of this vision was a new outdoor stadium for Vancouver. A stadium that could house the Whitecaps men's and women's teams, as well as play host to international soccer matches featuring Canada's national teams, and top-level clubs from around the world.

But this would be more than just a soccer stadium. With a capacity of 20,000 seats, which could be expanded to 30,000 seats in the coming years, the proposed venue would provide fans with a close-up experience for amazing outdoor concerts, symphony performances, and a wide range of sporting events like international rugby, tennis, and beach volleyball. It would also provide a home for the many ethnic and community festivals held in Vancouver each year.

The location is visionary. Right on the waterfront at the heart of the main transit hub, the facility would be the most transit-friendly stadium in North America, with direct access to buses, SkyTrain (including the new Canada Line), SeaBus, and West Coast Express. The location is also ideal for those working and living downtown. The site is within walking distance for the more than 80,000 people that live in the downtown area, as well as 8,000 hotel rooms, and over 30,000 parking stalls.

The proposed stadium would offer breathtaking views of Burrard Inlet and the North Shore Mountains. The stadium design would be spectacular, showcasing and promoting our province's best construction techniques and materials, including BC wood products; and incorporating sustainable, environmentally-friendly building methods and management systems.