Tickets for the first leg of this year's Nutrilite Canadian Championship (NCC) final between Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Toronto FC are now on sale. Whitecaps FC host their fellow Major League Soccer (MLS) rivals on Bell Pitch at Empire Field on Wednesday, May 18, at 7 p.m. PT.
Tickets start at $20, plus applicable service charges, and are available at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centres, online at ticketmaster.ca, and Charge-by-Phone at 1.855.6.GO-CAPS(1.855.646.2277).
Following the first leg at Empire Field, Whitecaps FC will travel to Southern Ontario to contest the decisive second leg at Toronto’s BMO Field on Wednesday, May 25. The winner of the two-match series will be awarded the Voyageurs Cup as 2011 Canadian club champions.
Whitecaps FC earned a spot in the final by defeating North American Soccer League (NASL) club Montreal Impact 2-1 on aggregate in their two-match semifinal series. Vancouver opened their 2011 NCC campaign with a 1-0 victory over the Impact at Montreal's Stade Saputo on April 27 before battling to a dramatic 1-1 extra-time draw in the return match at Empire Field on May 4.
Toronto FC, meanwhile, dispatched new NCC entrants FC Edmonton 4-0 on aggregate. In the first leg, TFC downed a ten-man Edmonton squad 3-0 at Commonwealth Stadium before winning the second leg 1-0 over the NASL club at BMO Field.
This will be the second meeting of the season between the two clubs. On March 19, Whitecaps FC defeated TFC 4-2 in their inaugural MLS match at Empire Field.
The winner of this year's Nutrilite Canadian Championship not only claims the Voyageurs Cup title, but Canada's lone spot in the 2011-12 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League. The 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League winner will then advance to represent CONCACAF at the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup.
The May 18 championship first leg will be broadcast live across Canada on Rogers Sportsnet, starting at 7 p.m. PT. 'Caps fans can also listen live on TEAM 1410 radio and teamradio.ca.
CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
First Leg - Wednesday, May 18 – 7 p.m. PT – Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Toronto FC – Rogers Sportsnet (Pacific, West, Ontario, East)
Second Leg - Wednesday, May 25 – 5 p.m. PT – Toronto FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Rogers Sportsnet ONE
Whitecaps FC fans now have the option of purchasing three exciting new match packs. Starting at just $159, the match pack options - GOING HOLLYWOOD, I (HEART) NY, LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR? - all include the Manchester City FC friendly match, valued at $60, and four coveted MLS matches. Aside from season tickets, which also include the Manchester City game, match packs are currently the only way to secure a ticket to the July 18 international friendly. For additional information on match packs, visit whitecapsfc.com/matchpacks.
