============== IF this turns out to be true, I hope they design the stadium with THIS amazing view in mind.
Story about the possible Whitecaps stadium. I'll post the major points. A lot of the article does seems to be conjecture though. Hastings Racecourse abandons horse racing, so is a Whitecaps stadium next? Patrick Johnston: All eyes are now on Hastings Park's future as a possible sports venue now that horse racing is done. Talk of a stadium at Hastings Park remains premature, but it appears a big step toward one is in view. The city and the Vancouver Whitecaps are close to deal that would give the soccer team an exclusive window to assemble a project that included a new stadium at the site of the Hastings Racecourse, Postmedia has learned. A proposed memorandum of understanding will be presented to Vancouver council as early as next week that would allow the Whitecaps to bring aboard other partners for additional developments on the site, sources said. A source with knowledge of Hastings Park’s operations suggested they expect the city would move to allow a stadium to be built on the site. The size of a stadium, as well as what it would cost and who would pay for the project remain unknown. Stadiums around North America have generally been built with public money but would the public support taxpayer money going toward another big stadium for outdoor sports teams, like the Whitecaps and Lions, especially when there’s already B.C. Place stadium that is currently undergoing renovations for next summer’s FIFA World Cup? Would the province put up money? The city? Might the Lions be willing to partner on a stadium project? If public money did go toward the stadium, how would revenues be split? Coun. Mike Klassen, who also chairs the PNE board, declined to comment when asked last week about the potential for a new stadium. Unlike other parks in the city, Hastings Park was created through a trust granted to the city by the provincial government and rather than being managed by the park board, is managed directly by city council. More info in the link above.
This turf is getting good reviews. Granted, grass is probably better but if you go with turf this might be the upgrade. https://www.sprinturf.com/sprinturf...s,* Panorama Park outside of Colorado Springs
Hmmmm.... this is either stadium related or World Cup related: 1998915110799290763 is not a valid tweet id
Not MLS related, however, Concacaf holds a lot of events in Vegas: 1998873498111062143 is not a valid tweet id
The comments are a fun read but I don't think it's World Cup related after reading them. Seems it's Hastings site or PNE in most comments with a few they shouldn't get a dime yada yada yada.
The Whitecap and Vancouver City Mayor announcement is probably about the Caps rental lease at BC Place Stadium for another 3-4 years; the Hastings Park Entertainment Hub project with a soccer stadium will come in 2026 before the WC, IMO- when that happens, there will be more big-wigs, because its going to be a HUGE change to the Vancouver sporting scene with the Entertainment Hub at Hastings Park just being Part 1- it will depend on the pockets of the new investors coming on-borad with the existing Ownership group that were selling last Spring, but now are staying because a new stadium would give them control of revenue and dates/events Vancouver might become the new Toronto
The Whitecaps were the original Canadian super club. They're just reclaiming their crown. They has Peter Beardsley y'know? They toured Europe (well the UK).
We had Bruce Grobbelaar as well, before he transferred to Liverpool in 81. I remember Manchester United coming to Empire Stadium during pre-season and Beardsley scoring two goals in a 3-1 victory. It wasn't a partcularly close match either. He was a hell of a player. I went to Beardsley's testimonial match at Swangard after he retired when the Whitecaps were in Div. II. We played the San Jose Earthquakes and he made a good account of himself in leading us to a 1-1 halftime score. Then 18 year old Landon Donovan came on in the second half and totally destroyed us. Had two goals and a couple of other chances in leading the Quakes to a 3-1 victory. He was clearly the best player on the field. So damn quick.
From the Whitecaps site... City of Vancouver and Vancouver Whitecaps FC sign MOU for new stadium project at Hastings Racecourse Park The City of Vancouver and Vancouver Whitecaps FC have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enter an exclusive negotiation period through 2026 to explore a new stadium and entertainment district at Hastings Park. This agreement marks a significant step toward creating a world-class sports and cultural destination for residents and visitors. The MOU establishes an exclusive negotiation period through December 31, 2026. During this time, the City and Whitecaps FC will work collaboratively to negotiate terms for a ground lease, including the stadium’s design, financial terms and community benefits for the proposed development. “After an incredible year that saw the Whitecaps reach the MLS Cup Final for the first time in club history, it's clear just how much this team means to our city, and we're incredibly excited to be taking the next step forward," said Mayor Sim. "This MOU demonstrates a firm commitment by both the City and the Whitecaps to advance work towards a new stadium here in Vancouver. The partnership we are building today has the potential to create jobs, boost our local economy, and transform Hastings Park into an even more vibrant destination for sports, concerts, and community events.” “We’re grateful for the City’s partnership and look forward to working together to determine whether Hastings Park can become the location for a future home of our club,” said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC CEO. “We have a lot of work ahead of us, but this is a positive step forward, and we hope many more will follow as we work to secure a permanent home that will allow us to compete with long-term stability in Major League Soccer.” The proposed lease area is within the current Hastings Racecourse footprint, which includes space recently used for racecourse and casino operations. The City will retain ownership of the land at Hastings Racecourse Park. Both parties also recognize the Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s agreement to purchase the casino business currently operating on the site. The project will undergo all required regulatory approvals and public processes, including zoning and development applications. The City and Whitecaps FC are committed to transparency and engagement throughout the planning process. Next steps include preliminary planning and design proposals for the site and intensified negotiations for a potential ground lease.
And so it begins... I look forward to hearing progress reports in "60-90 days" Seriously, good luck to them. The league is on track to have Miami in 2026, NYCFC in 2027, Chicago in 2028, and Vancouver in 2029.
Boston by 2030 maybe??? That would leave Seattle, Atlanta and Charlotte in seriously oversize stadiums (did I miss one?)
That date! Why were Forest playing an exhibition in the middle of the season? Was that normal in England back then? I just find that really strange…MLS teams do that to make money off Liga MX fans, or in off days due to an international break.
1981/1982 was a 42 game season because there were 22 teams in the first division! That was the first season England used three point wins. It looks like that was the second game of two back to back as well, they played at Middlesbrough on the 10th. Players made of iron in those days.
========== Seattle will eventually build their own SSS on property they own. They have a firm helping with this. There stadium lease runs to 2032, so that would have to be addressed also. Charlotte will likely never get a SSS with current owner, but if they put the grass back in, I guess it would be a partial win. The NFL players would probably appreciate it also. Long shot, team is sold to a new owner who builds SSS, but I think that is very long term as you have to see if the team continues to draw as well as they been. Same with ATL, unless there is a new owner who wants to move the team out of the dome, the dome appears to be very, very long term. When I went to a game there, I was looking around and thinking could they modify it like Phoenix or Vegas to roll a grass field in or out...didn't look like it.
I've been to a lot of stadiums in this league, and in a lot of other leagues, sports, countries, etc. The Benz in Atlanta is by far the best one I've been to. Even half empty and with plastic grass, the fan experience is better than nearly anything else I've done. I have not been to the new NFL Stadiums in Minnesota, Vegas, or LA, so it's possible those are better, but I doubt they're as inexpensive. Now, if they can figure out how to play soccer again, it'll be even better...
Yeah. I think we are stuck with ATL's dome/turf and Charlotte's turf until ownership changes. But VAN, NE, and SEA I think will get SSS in the nearcto medium term. And Portland had made noise about grass previously, so I have hope there.
Forest played it the day after one of their longest a away trips of the season. I don't know why. There were mid-season friendlies back then, mostly testimonials i.e. fundraisers for long serving players.