79 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

Whitecaps set host Messi and Inter Miami as MLS unveils schedule

 

Argentinian soccer star an anniversary present to the fans as franchise turns 50

https://www.vicnews....chedule-7288560

[Ismo07]

Whitecaps FC to host Tigres UANL at Starlight Stadium in Langford, BC on February 7   | Vancouver Whitecaps

[Victoria Watcher]

Lionel Messi could play in Vancouver against Whitecaps FC next May

 

Inter Miami is set to face Vancouver Whitecaps FC on May 25, 2024 at BC Place; will Lionel Messi play?

https://www.timescol...ext-may-8011501

 

 

 

Cheapest tickets on StubHub are $659.  Whitecaps have no put on sale single-game tickets yet.  Or opened the upper bowl.  

 

For comparison, games adjacent to this go for $55 on Stubhub.

 

 

 

 

 

Luis Suárez signs with Inter Miami, reunites with former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi

 

https://www.ctvnews....messi-1.6699308

 

There had been speculation for months that Suárez would join Inter Miami, especially given his relationship with Messi. Inter Miami won its first trophy — the Leagues Cup — last season shortly after Messi arrived, his signing part of an overhaul that brought elite talent like Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba to the club, along with coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino. Busquets and Alba also played for Barcelona alongside Messi, and Martino is a former Barcelona coach.

 

Now, Suárez joins that mix. He turns 37 in January — Messi is 36, Busquets is 35 and Alba turns 35 in March, so Inter Miami will surely have some workloads to manage. And Suárez has struggled with intense knee pain, but clearly the lure of playing with Messi again was too strong to ignore.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 December 2023 - 03:13 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Vancouver Whitecaps temporarily add ‘Island’ to name ahead of game in Langford

 

According to the club, more than 90 percent of seats for the match in Langford had already been sold as of Monday. Remaining tickets can be purchased online, while limited-edition Vancouver Island Whitecaps merchandise will be sold at Starlight on Feb. 7.

 

 

https://www.cheknews...ngford-1189463/

[Victoria Watcher]

In keeping with the Island theme, the Whitecaps pointed out they also have five weekend 4:30 p.m. starts this MLS season at B.C. Place aimed specifically at fans from Vancouver Island and the Okanagan. That includes the season opener March 2 against Charlotte FC. With more than 25,000 tickets already sold for that game, the upper bowl will be opened.

 

Another CONCACAF Champions League game is scheduled for Starlight Stadium on Feb. 21 between CPL representative Cavalry FC and Orlando City of MLS. That game was shifted to the Island because of the winter conditions expected in Calgary this month.

 

 

https://www.timescol...stadium-8213214

[Victoria Watcher]

Tigres UANL fans, whose home stadium in known as El Volcan, brought a mini volcano with them to the Island on Wednesday night. They made Starlight Stadium their own in the stands with signs and chanting that often drowned out the Vancouver Whitecaps supporters.

 

But neither the Tigres of Liga MX or the Whitecaps of Major League Soccer could make the pitch quite their own in a cracking 1-1 CONCACAF Champions Cup opening-round match before 5,753 boisterous fans. It was the second-largest crowd for soccer this winter at Starlight after the 6,102 who watched Canada beat Australia 5-0 in a women’s friendly in December in Canadian legend Christine Sinclair’s penultimate game in red. Many of the fans Wednesday complained of the long waits to get into the game, causing them to miss the first part of the first half.

 

https://www.timescol...stadium-8274051

 

 

Many of the fans Wednesday complained of the long waits to get into the game, causing them to miss the first part of the first half.

 

 

 

That's too bad.  At some point, you just have to let them in, assume they have tickets.  But of course the delay might have been security /bag checks etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Croatian-import Damir Kreilach nodded home a header at 32 minutes for the Whitecaps. U.S. international Brian White appeared to make it 2-0 at 53 minutes but the goal was disallowed on video review. Tigres tied it on a moment of pure magic by André-Pierre Gignac, a World Cup and European Championship player for France, who connected on a majestic penalty kick to the top corner at 88 minutes that would have done Messi or Beckham proud. He then jogged to the Tigres cheering section of the crowd and pointed to the name on the back of his jersey and flexed, much to the delight of the Mexican team’s fans.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 08 February 2024 - 02:55 AM.

[AllseeingEye]

Gignac's tying goal was as they say just "sublime". Gorgeous shot from a world class player.

[Matt R.]

I was in Swartz bay when this team and/or their fans arrived, the whole railing of the top deck was taken over with banners over the rail, megaphone, drums, flags, songs etc.

Of course my first thought was “protest” but after looking a little more closely figured it was “soccer hooligans”.

[Victoria Watcher]

Wrexham AFC, co-owned by Canadian actor and Vancouver native Ryan Reynolds, is set to play Major League Soccer’s Vancouver Whitecaps on July 27 at BC Place Stadium.

 

It will be the last of Wrexham AFC’s three North American matches this summer as part of their 2024 Wrex Coast Tour.

 

Preceding the Vancouver visit, Wrexham will face English Premier League competition in California, against Bournemouth on July 20 in Santa Barbara, and Chelsea FC on July 24 in Santa Clara.

 

 

https://www.cheknews...ontest-1200985/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 25 April 2024 - 08:26 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Fuming fans alter Messi shirts after wasting hundreds of dollars to watch Miami vs Vancouver for World Cup winner to be a no show

 

• Irate fans taped over Messi's name and wrote crude messages on their jerseys 
• Messi, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets all didn't make the trip to Canada 

 

https://www.dailymai...er-no-show.html

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 28 May 2024 - 02:47 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Philadelphia Union’s 14-year-old phenom Cavan Sullivan makes history in MLS debut

 

https://www.cnn.com/...intl/index.html

 

 

The midfielder made history, becoming the youngest player to make his regular-season debut among the top North American professional sports leagues (MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL, NWSL and WNBA) at 14 years and 293 days old.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cavan signed a record-breaking homegrown player deal where he'll earn more than $500,000 per season. 

 

https://www.cbssport... performed well.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 20 July 2024 - 06:47 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Vancouver Whitecaps FC are set to face Welsh side Wrexham AFC in an international match at BC Place this Saturday, July 27, hosted by TEG Sport. The pre-game street party at Robson & Beatty will start at 1:30 p.m., gates will open at 3 p.m., and kick is set for 4:30 p.m. PT.

• Spectator Information

A huge crowd of more than 30,000 fans are expected in attendance, and tickets are available starting from $45 - plus taxes and fees - at ticketmaster.ca. The match will also be broadcast live on TSN5 and CKNW.com.

 

 

 

 

https://www.whitecap...ed-vwfc-wrexham

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 26 July 2024 - 08:48 PM.

[LJ]

That didn't go well.

[lanforod]

lol. Third level English league team smokes top level North American team. Ah Canada. Got a long ways to go in soccer!

Mind you, I suspect a WHL Hockey team would smoke a EIHL team just fine.

[AllseeingEye]

^ Exactly. The Fyfe Flyers would probably count themselves fortunate merely to get a handful of shots against the London Knights. Of course the Whitecaps are far from the very top tier of MSL clubs. It would be interesting to see how Wrexham would fare for example against Inter Miami with a healthy Messi in the lineup.

[Victoria Watcher]

Wow.  4-1.

 

Almost 35,000 fans.

[lanforod]

One thing for sure: Ryan Reynolds’s is a major boost to Vancouvers economy.

[Victoria Watcher]

Ya seems he can do no wrong. People love him. His roster of ex girlfriends is decent too.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 28 July 2024 - 09:51 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

The owners of the Vancouver Whitecaps are putting the Major League Soccer team up for sale.

 

The ownership group — Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett and Steve Nash — announced the news in a statement Friday, saying the decision follows “reflection on what is required to ensure its continued growth and success.”

 

Goldman Sachs has been brought in to advise on sale and transition options.

 

The Whitecaps finished last season with a 13-13-8 record and beat their regional rival Portland Thorns in a post-season playoff game before being eliminated by Los Angeles FC in a three-game first-round matchup.

 

 

https://cheknews.ca/...r-club-1228983/

 

 

 

 

 

 

This group came together and took control of the team back in 2008. They were awarded an MLS franchise back in 2009 for $30 million.

 

[...]

 

Forbes valued the Whitecaps at $420 million back in February, ranking 28th out of 29 MLS teams. That’s 14x the original expansion fee. They reported the team as having $25 million in 2023 revenue but operating at a net loss of $14 million. Sportico currently values the club at $470 million. 

 

https://dailyhive.co...elling-the-team

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 December 2024 - 02:50 AM.

[LJ]

So Indianapolis, Tulsa and Las Vegas are looking to buy a franchise, so long Vancouver.

 

San Jose Earthquakes paid $500M for a expansion team, getting the Whitecaps for $450 would be a bargain.