'Caps to Open Against TFC

VANCOUVER BC – Major League Soccer (MLS) today announced Vancouver Whitecaps FC will kick off their inaugural MLS season on Saturday, March 19, 2011, at Empire Field against their Canadian MLS rival, Toronto FC (TFC).

"March 19, 2011, will be a historic day for our club and our fans. In just 90 days, we’ll be facing off against our Canadian rivals TFC and write the opening chapter for our club’s MLS journey," stated Bob Lenarduzzi, president, Vancouver Whitecaps FC. "Our cities have a history of passionate rivalries, and I know without a doubt our fans and our players are looking forward to meeting our Eastern Canadian counterparts on the pitch and taking our rivalry to a new level. As the club fast approaches its initial season ticket sales cap of 16,500, fans will need to act now to ensure they’re able to be a part of this historic moment."

Throughout the years, the Blue & White have played seven different Toronto-based clubs in Canadian professional soccer history posting an all-time record of 34W-23L-10D. Whitecaps FC also hold a favourable all-time home record against teams from Canada's largest city, having amassed 23 wins, six defeats, and six draws between 1975 and 2010. TFC were 9W-13L-8D during the 2010 MLS regular season and have compiled a MLS regular season record of 34W-54L-32D during their first four seasons.

At the North American second division level, Whitecaps FC have battled Toronto FC six times in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship, posting a winning record of 2W-1L-3D and a home record of 1W-0L-2D. Toronto FC are the reigning two-time Voyageurs Cup winners, having won the title in 2009 and 2010.

MLS also confirmed today that all 18 clubs will take the field during the opening “First Kick” week as they embark on a 34-match, balanced regular season in which every club will face each of the other 17 teams twice – once at home, once on the road. Ten teams will qualify for the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Following the opening week, on Saturday, March 26, Whitecaps FC will play their first MLS regular season road match when the travel to PPL Park to face second-year club Philadelphia Union. Last year the Union posted a regular season record of 8-15-7.

The schedule for all 18 home openers is below. Kickoff times, additional matches, and national television broadcasts will be announced at a later date. The entire 2011 MLS regular season schedule will be released by early February.

Home club listed first, in bold; All times Pacific
Schedule subject to change:

Tuesday, March 15
Seattle Sounders FC vs. LA Galaxy, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Saturday, March 19
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Toronto FC, time TBD
D.C. United vs. Columbus Crew, 4:30 p.m.
New York Red Bulls vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 4:30 p.m.
FC Dallas vs. Chicago Fire, 5:30 p.m.
Houston Dynamo vs. Philadelphia Union, 5:30pm
Colorado Rapids vs. Portland Timbers, 6 p.m.
Chivas USA vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7:30 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 20
LA Galaxy vs. New England Revolution, 6 p.m.

Saturday, March 26
Toronto FC vs. Portland Timbers, time TBD
New England Revolution vs. D.C. United, time TBD
Chicago Fire vs. Sporting Kansas City, 1 p.m.
Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls, 1 p.m.
Philadelphia Union vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 1 p.m.
Real Salt Lake vs. LA Galaxy, 6 p.m.

Thursday, April 14
Portland Timbers vs. Chicago Fire, 8 p.m.

Thursday, June 9
Sporting Kansas City vs. Chicago Fire, time TBD

Whitecaps FC 2011 Major League Soccer season tickets start at a base price of $319, plus applicable tax and a $10 processing fee per order, and more than 60 per cent of seats are available for less than $31 per game. To secure a seat and for additional information about Whitecaps FC MLS season tickets, suites, and loge boxes, call 604.669.9283 or visit whitecapsfc.com.

For more analysis check out Andrew Bucholtz's Article at Canadian Soccer News

Whitecaps Training Facility Dilema

Map A) 8 Rinks Sports Complex
Burnaby

Map B) Delta Site at Hwy 91 and Hwy 10

Map C) Garden City Park
Richmond

Map D) Cloverdale Exhibition Grounds
Surrey

So here are your front runners in the lower mainland for potential 

Traing Facilities for the Vancouver Whitecaps.

for more an explination of what is going on with these maps click here

The Southsiders Break their Silence

The following is the official release from the Southsiders, Vancouver's Supporters Group.

We feel there are tremendous benefits to be gained by hosting as many visiting supporters in Vancouver as possible, because it is the rival supporters groups singing back and forth across the stadium that will turn Vancouver’s quiet spectators into lifelong supporters who shout their hearts out every match.

Our hope has always been that Vancouver could open its doors to more than 500 visitors, because we know the Timbers Army and ECS already have the numbers to fill twice that many seats. As a result, I suspect many of their fans caught outside the lucky 500 will be seeking additional seats anywhere they can get them, and this is a scenario which opens the door for potential security issues between rival fans seated next to each other.

to continue reading this release please click here

We've Got Room Bring Your Friends!

VANCOUVER, BC - Major League Soccer has approved a plan for the supporters groups from the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders FC, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC to purchase up to 500 tickets for away matches against their Cascadia rivals in 2011.

Although detailed operational plans are still being developed, the 500 tickets will be sold to each of the visiting clubs, who will then allocate those tickets to their travelling supporters groups.

“The Pacific Northwest derbies have a tremendous history dating back to the 70’s and we are pleased that all three clubs, with the support of Major League Soccer, have come together to create what will be an exciting and safe environment for all fans to enjoy,” said Paul Barber, chief executive officer, Whitecaps FC. “Supporters culture in soccer is special and unique, and today’s agreement is a positive step in the right direction.”

The rivalry between the three clubs dates back to the old North American Soccer League. Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps entered that league in 1974, while Portland Timbers followed suit in 1975. The Pacific Northwest rivalry was rekindled in the 1990s when the clubs competed in North America’s second division professional leagues.

Whitecaps FC and Timbers will join MLS in 2011 as the 17th and 18th clubs; Sounders FC made its MLS debut in 2009. The complete 2011 MLS schedule will be released in the coming months. Prior to the start of the 2011 season, MLS will announce League-wide guidelines for travelling supporters.

Whitecaps FC 2011 Major League Soccer season tickets start at a base price of $319, plus applicable tax and a $10 processing fee per order, and more than 60 per cent of seats are available for less than $31 per game. To secure a seat and for additional information about Whitecaps FC MLS season tickets, suites, and loge boxes, call 604.669.9283 or visit whitecapsfc.com.


For more information check out Rudi's post at Canadian Soccer News

Jay DeMerit kills Santa...Days before Christmas

Not really but he had a way bigger line up for his autograph session.

The Whitecaps paraded their marquee new signing Jay DeMerit in front of the public today in an in store autograph session at Metrotown Mall.

read all about it at Canadian Soccer News, Vancouver Insider

Whitecaps Sign 2, But Cut 3

The Whitecaps signed 2 of their standout players from last year. USSF D2 Defender of the Year Greg Janicki and fan favourite Terry Dunfield. However, that was just the tip of the iceberg here in Lotusland. As the sun dropped behind Vancouver Island and the air got cooler, 3 players had their MLS Dreams dashed. 

To Read the rest of this article click HERE

The Emperors New Clothes

The Portland Timbers have released their new kits just in time for the Holiday Season. While they don't look all that great in these pictures, they actually look really classy on a player.

If you didn't get a chance to see the "Runway on the Runway" introduction featuring players and Alaska Airlines employees, sashaying down a runway in front of a Boeing Airplane it was pretty neat. The kind of thing you would expect from MLSE, but a little more poorly organized.  I especially like the Red, Secondary Kits. Unfortunately it's not the clothes that make the man it's the man that make's the clothes. I personally can't wait to see the Timbers lose at Empire in either their Green, or their Red Kits.

It's pretty cool to see the next level that Adidas has kicked things up to with their uniforms these days. Starting with the Whitecaps Argyle V's and W's to the Huston Dynamo's Radiation Rings, and now to Portland's sun rising from their arseholes. I can't wait to see what's next.

To Check out my immediate reaction see my post on The Canadian Soccer News.