Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium in the Media
STADIUM NEWS - Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium in the Media - 2008
“Soccer: Whitecaps prove that they're MLS-ready with draw in Toronto” Vancouver Sun, July 10, 2008
“The quaint stadium in Burnaby was filled beyond its capacity of 5,288 on a gorgeous summer evening. Three times as many people would have filled the Whitecaps' downtown stadium had, in fact, it existed. But the City of Vancouver has given it less support than the safe injection site in the same neighborhood, delaying the Whitecaps bid to join MLS.
A renovated, retractable-roofed B.C. Place Stadium won't be ready for the Whitecaps until 2010. Will Major League Soccer wait until then for the Whitecaps?”
“Bob Lenarduzzi” The Soccer Paper, July 4, 2008
“You were just in Montreal. The commissioner of the MLS, Don Garber, was also there. Did you get a chance to speak with him about your future in that league at all? We spoke, however it wasn’t the time to be speaking formally. It was very informal. He’s aware of the fact that we now have a stadium option and they’re okay with that option, as long as we continue to pursue that soccer-specific stadium.”
“Nash actively pursuing Vancouver MLS team, brother says”, National Post, June 15, 2008
“Bob Lenarduzzi, the president of the Whitecaps, said he would gladly welcome any support Nash offers.
"With his profile and his interest in the game and the fact he's a great Canadian that we're all very proud, of course we would welcome him. As far as his involvement, that's certainly premature from my perspective."
The Whitecaps are scrambling to get the ball rolling on a new soccer stadium to be located on Vancouver's waterfront. A disagreement with the Vancouver Port Corp., which owns some land the Whitecaps need, is holding up the project.”
“Stadium dead in the water?” 24 Hours, May 20, 2008
“The proposed Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium looks dim unless Bob Lenarduzzi picked up a doozy of a bargaining chip Friday to kickstart talks with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.”
“New roof leagues better”, The Vancouver Sun, May 18, 2008
“Lenarduzzi said the Whitecaps are working towards signing a five-year lease with B.C. Pavilion Corp., but that doesn't mean the waterfront stadium won't continue to be pursued.
"It's taken us five years to get essentially nowhere now," said Lenarduzzi. "So we may as well concern ourselves with the things we can control and still strive to get the approvals [for the waterfront venue]."”
“MLS commissioner says Vancouver is potential expansion franchise market”, The Canadian Press (via Google), May 17, 2008
“MLS commissioner Don Garber says Vancouver is a potential market for expansion but wants more information on renovations to B.C. Place Stadium. And he reiterated the league's longstanding desire for teams to have soccer-specific stadiums.”
“"We understand the newly renovated B.C. Place Stadium will be a world-class facility. We look forward to learning more about the proposed renovations so that we may determine whether B.C. Place can serve as an interim venue for an MLS team pending the construction of a soccer-specific stadium.”
“Whitecaps happy with new home”, Vancouver Sun, May 16, 2008
“Lenarduzzi said there was no out clause should the Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium be built before 2016 and preferred not to think about what the team would do if its bid for a MLS franchise was denied.”
'Caps Pursue Lease in BC Place, Vancouver Whitecaps press release, May 16, 2008
“The decision to pursue a lease in a refurbished BC Place is a necessary adjustment to course,” said Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi. “It is a result of the long negotiation and approval timeline for our proposed waterfront stadium, combined with the shortening window of opportunity to secure an MLS expansion franchise.”
“STADIUM THOUGHTS:” 24 Hours Vancouver, May 9, 2008
“The Canadian Soccer Association's new president has not waded into the Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium debate - yet. "We don't have any requests from B.C. Soccer Association or the Whitecaps, but if the Whitecaps ask us, surely we'll help them,"”
“CSA finally gives support to Waterfront Stadium”, CKNW, May 6, 2008
“The Canadian Soccer Association is finally taking a pro-active stance on the Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium issue.
When asked by CKNW today, newly elected CSA General Secretary Peter Montopoli indicated they would lend support to a process that started in 2003.”
“Lenarduzzi: Vancouver Whitecaps had no plans for condos”, Vancouver Sun, April 30, 2008
“The former Vancouver soccer star said a front-page story in Wednesday's Vancouver Sun headlined "Stadium plan includes condos" conveyed the impression that Kerfoot's plan to build a $90-million stadium was as much a real estate play as it was an investment in professional soccer.
"If I read that headline, I'm thinking that there is something sinister taking place here," Lenarduzzi told The Vancouver Sun's editorial board Wednesday. "That's bullshit. That's not the case."”
See the related Vancouver Sun video “Video: Lenarduzzi refutes condo allegations”
“A beautiful dream” Metro, April 30, 2008
“An international soccer friendly between Canada and Brazil in Seattle next month is the latest in a laundry list of entertainment and sporting events missed because Vancouver lacks a suitable venue.”
Team 1040 - Pratt and Taylor, Podcast (MP3 format) from April 29, 2008
Pratt and Taylor on the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and the negotiations with the Whitecaps. Comments from Bob Lenarduzzi and Larry Campbell included.
Stadium talk starts about 55 minutes into the podcast.
“Stadium talks underway again” CKNW, April 29, 2008
“The Vancouver Whitecaps and the Vancouver Port Authority are sounding more conciliatory as they discuss a proposed waterfront stadium. This after talks hit an impasse and part of those discussions were made public.”
“A senator steps in to get a soccer stadium on track” Vancouver Sun, April 29, 2008
“Five years after Campbell, then Vancouver's mayor, first encouraged Kerfoot to build a downtown stadium, a shovel has yet to be sunk into the ground, although there should be a few people hit over the head with one.”
“Senator offers help in stadium impasse” The Province, April 29, 2008
“Vancouver Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi is welcoming an offer by Sen. Larry Campbell to play striker in stalled talks over a proposed waterfront soccer stadium.”
“Campbell wades into new stadium debate” 24 Hours, April 29, 2008
"I'd like to really see it go ahead. It would be tremendous for the city," Campbell said. "The Whitecaps have been great citizens. It would be nice to bring them into Vancouver."
THE COMFORT ZONE Gerry Dobson, Sportsnet, April 29, 2008
“There are rumours that BC Place will undergo a $100-million renovation, including a retractable roof, for the 2010 Olympics.
It will be funded by tax-payer dollars of course. The cost however will be offset by the sale of some of the most valuable property in the country adjacent to the stadium.
Of course Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot has been wanting to build his own stadium with his own money, but the idiots at City Hall in Vancouver are well....idiots.”
“Larry Campbell wading in on Whitecaps staduim debate” CKNW, April 28, 2008
“Campbell says he thinks the stadium would be a great addition to the waterfront, and hopes city council will get more involved.” (spelling mistake CKNW’s...)
Global BC news coverage of Whitecaps stadium proposal (Monday, April 28 Sportscast - stadium coverage starts 1 minute, 35 seconds into the video)
“Vancouver needs to get on and build a soccer stadium” The Province, April 27, 2008
“Vancouver likes to boast it is a world-class city. But in the negotiations to build a new waterfront soccer stadium it is proving to be a minor-league player indeed.”
2008/04/29
Listen to CKNW’s Jim Mullin comment on the current status of the Whitecaps stadium proposal vis a vis negotiations with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. (MP3 file hosted on FOS)
Stadium NOW! News Blog post:
The Vancouver malaise 2008 edition
2008/04/29
Recently statements by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority were made on CKNW regarding land negotiations with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Get the Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s response here.
Read Mayor Sam Sullivan’s response to the critical guest editorial published in the Vancouver Sun.
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