Soccer

Early last year, the provincial government nixed a $35-million deal with Telus, an agreement that would have renamed the recently renovated BC Place Stadium to “Telus Park” for the next 20 years. Although it was publicly known that the telecommunications giant was upset with the province’s abrupt change of heart, negotiations are now back on the table ten months after the initial standoff.

It seems like it was just yesterday that our city was buzzing about the Whitecaps making the MLS playoffs. Hell, I can still remember seeing Jay Demerit at The Commodore Ballroom with his mullet. Despite the success of last season, it is time to begin looking forward to next year. Here are some of the stand out points from the new schedule.

Their sophomore season has already been a memorable one. With one game left in the regular season, the Whitecaps have already punched their ticket to the post season. That team accomplishment is nice, but a few players are up for some MLS individual awards as well.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Vancouver Whitecaps FC made history this week. After a disappointing loss at BC Place to their Cascadia Cup rivals, The Portland Timbers, the Whitecaps needed some help from their other Cascadia Cup rival Seattle Sounders.

Sunday, October 21st has been circled in many people’s calendar for some time now. I had it circled because it is a marquee match between the Whitecaps and their Pacific Northwest rivals their the Portland Timbers. Now it has been announced that it is going to be Fan Appreciation Day at BC Place. All the more reason to get your butt in a seat.

Beginning in 2015, UBC students will be seeing a lot more of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Canadian national team players on campus. The new $32-million National Soccer Development Centre will serve as the new long-awaited training grounds for not only the Whitecaps FC but also Canada’s national teams.

Read the complete 3-part Vancity Buzz Special Exclusive Series on Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria hosting the Summer Olympic Games. What would it take to host the world’s largest international sporting event?

For the last 7 years Manchester United superstar, Wayne Rooney, has been on the cover of every FIFA game. The sports super publisher and football phenom mutually agreed that it was time for a fresh look. But who will be on the cover if not him? EA Sports has made an announcement.

In this second part of our 3-part Vancity Buzz Special Exclusive Series, we focus on the competition sport venues required to host the Summer Olympic Games here in Metro Vancouver and Victoria.