In an exclusive story published on CanuckSource.com, the site reports that Vancouver Whitecaps owner, Greg Kerfoot, “has completed the purchase of waterfront property just east of the downtown Seabus terminal for a 30,000 seat outdoor soccer stadium, expandable to 50,000 … with transit, Skytrain, the Seabus, the West Coast Express, and the new RAV line right on its doorstep … and within walking distance of dozens of pubs, restaurants and cafés, not to mention the expanded Trade and Convention Centre. A grass pitched stadium right by the ocean with mountain and skyline backdrops at the heart of downtown Vancouver.” Excitement is mounting already.
According to CanuckSource.com’s Kenneth Chan, the BC Lions “are being courted as potential co-tenants as BC Place’s days are numbered as it is rumoured that the stadium will likely be imploded after the Olympics for condos.” Activists may oppose construction of the new stadium given that the project borders the politically sensitive Downtown Eastside community.
Vancouver City Councillor, and Vision Vancouver mayoralty candidate, Jim Green, has reported that the Whitecaps have presented preliminary designs and a full development application to city planners for the Coal Harbour site. Mr. Green has not gone on record as stating whether he and his nascent political party support the construction of a harbourside sports facility.
Raymond Tomlin is a veteran journalist and educator who has written frequently on the political realm — municipal, provincial and federal — as well as on cinema, mainstream popular culture, the arts, and technology.
