Caps release 2008 men's schedule

January 14, 200812:00AM PST

Vancouver Whitecaps FC, in conjunction with the United Soccer Leagues (USL), announced today the 2008 USL First Division (USL-1) regular season schedule. The Whitecaps will kick off their 22nd season at Swangard Stadium in an all-Canadian tilt versus the Montreal Impact on April 12, and wrap up the regular season on the road against I-5 rivals Seattle Sounders at Starfire Sports Complex on September 20. The 11-team USL-1 uses a single-table format and this year, the Whitecaps will face each team three times. It will be the first time in league history the USL-1 will play a 30-game regular season schedule after playing 28-game schedules 10 of the last 11 seasons. Following the home opener, the Whitecaps will play two more matches at home before embarking on their first road trip, which will include Montreal’s home opener at the new 13,000-seat, natural grass Saputo Stadium on Monday, May 19. It will mark the opening of the fourth soccer specific facility in the USL-1, joining the Charleston Battery’s Blackbaud Stadium (1999), Atlanta Silverbacks’ RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium (2006) and Rochester Raging Rhinos’ PAETEC Park (2006). Swangard will host six matches on Saturday, five Sunday tilts including two 4:00 p.m. starts, two Friday matches which will be broadcast live on Fox Sports World Canada, and two Wednesday night encounters. The top seven teams will advance to the playoff tournament, with the Commissioner’s Cup winner (regular season champion) receiving a bye into the semifinals. The first round will involve the number two through number seven seeds competing in two-leg aggregate score series. The three winners will advance to the semifinals, with the number one seed pitted against the lowest remaining seed. The USL also announced today that the annual USL-1 College Player Draft has been suspended. Following an evaluation process, the draft may return in 2009. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2008 season tickets are on sale now. Prices start at $199, and all season tickets include a bonus ticket to next year’s international friendly match. For more information, visit whitecapsfc.com or call the Whitecaps office at 604.669.WAVE (9283).

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2008 Men’s Regular Season Schedule

Date	Opponent	Time (PDT)	Stadium
Sat., April 12	vs. Montreal Impact	7:00 p.m.	Swangard Stadium
Sat., April 26	vs. Minnesota Thunder	7:00 p.m.	Swangard Stadium
Sat., May 10	vs. Rochester Raging Rhinos	7:00 p.m.	Swangard Stadium
Fri., May 16	at Miami FC Blues	2:30 p.m.	Tropical Park Stadium
Mon., May 19	at Montreal Impact	12:00 p.m.	Saputo Stadium
Fri., May 23	vs. Seattle Sounders	8:00 p.m.	Swangard Stadium
Sat., May 24	at Portland Timbers	7:00 p.m.	PGE Park
Wed., May 28	at Charleston Battery	4:30 p.m.	Blackbaud Stadium
Sat., May 31	at Minnesota Thunder	5:05 p.m.	James Griffin Stadium
Sat., June 7	vs. Portland Timbers	7:00 p.m.	Swangard Stadium
Fri., June 13	at Rochester Raging Rhinos	5:00 p.m.	PAETEC Park
Sun., June 22	vs. Miami FC Blues	7:00 p.m.	Swangard Stadium
Sat., July 5	at Rochester Raging Rhinos	4:35 p.m.	PAETEC Park
Sun., July 13	vs. Carolina RailHawks	7:00 p.m.	Swangard Stadium
Wed., July 23	vs. Charleston Battery	7:00 p.m.	Swangard Stadium
Sat., July 26	vs. Carolina RailHawks	7:00 p.m.	Swangard Stadium
Tues., July 29	at Miami FC Blues	4:30 p.m.	Tropical Park Stadium
Fri., August 1	at Carolina RailHawks	5:00 p.m.	WakeMed Soccer Park
Sun., August 3	at Charleston Battery	3:00 p.m.	Blackbaud Stadium
Tues., August 5	at Atlanta Silverbacks	4:55 p.m.	RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium
Sun., August 10	vs. Atlanta Silverbacks	4:00 p.m.	Swangard Stadium
Sun., August 17	vs. Puerto Rico Islanders	7:00 p.m.	Swangard Stadium
Wed., August 20	at Seattle Sounders	7:00 p.m.	Starfire Sports Complex
Fri., August 22	vs. Portland Timbers	8:00 p.m.	Swangard Stadium
Wed., August 27	vs. Atlanta Silverbacks	7:00 p.m.	Swangard Stadium
Sun., August 31	at Puerto Rico Islanders	2:00 p.m.	Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium
Wed., September 3	at Puerto Rico Islanders	2:00 p.m.	Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium
Sun., September 7	vs. Minnesota Thunder	4:00 p.m.	Swangard Stadium
Sat., September 13	vs. Montreal Impact	7:00 p.m.	Swangard Stadium
Sat., September 20	at Seattle Sounders	7:00 p.m.	Starfire Sports Complex