With less than 140 days remaining until Major League Soccer (MLS) arrives in Vancouver, Whitecaps FC today unveiled the 2011 season ticket seating categories for the club's inaugural season. Fans will be able to choose from seven different seating categories ranging from a base price of $319 to the top-tier price of $1,482 (with special pricing for limited club front row seating), plus applicable tax and a $10 processing fee per order. Pricing starts at less than $17 per match and more than 60 per cent of seats are available for less than $31 per match.
Visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets for additional information and a BC Place seating chart
"The pricing we've announced today offers exceptional value to fans across all seating categories,” said Whitecaps FC president Bob Lenarduzzi. “2011 will be a very exciting year for our club and our fans; witnessing a team's inaugural Major League season is truly special, and with more than 15,000 deposits already sold, people will now need to act very quickly to buy their season ticket and ensure they don't miss the chance to be a part of this historic season."
Season tickets include access to a total of 19 home matches, including all 17 Major League Soccer regular season fixtures and all Nutrilite Canadian Championship matches. In addition, season ticket holders will enjoy a number of exclusive benefits including savings over individual match tickets, discount on merchandise, and priority purchase rights for international friendlies that may be staged by the club.
Current season ticket deposit holders will be contacted throughout November to secure their specific seat locations. Soccer fans can still purchase 2011 Whitecaps FC MLS season tickets by putting down a $50 deposit. To secure a seat and for additional information about Vancouver Whitecaps FC MLS season tickets, suites and loge boxes, call 604.669.9283.
Whitecaps FC will kickoff their first MLS season next March at Empire Field before moving into the new BC Place Stadium in downtown Vancouver. The 34 home and away matches will be played in the span of 32 weeks, with the MLS regular season coming to a close on Saturday, October 22, 2011.
Empire Field is located within the Pacific National Exhibition grounds on the site of the old Empire Stadium, where from 1974 to 1983, it served as the original home of Whitecaps FC when the club played in the old North American Soccer League (NASL). In late summer, following the completion of the new BC Place Stadium, the ’Caps will return to downtown Vancouver for the remainder of the 2011 season and beyond.
When completed, the new BC Place will be one of North America’s most spectacular theatres for sports and entertainment. In addition to the soccer-specific updates including a secondary roof that will be employed to create a more intimate atmosphere in the lower bowl, the stadium will feature a state-of-the-art retractable roof along with a centrally-hung, four-sided videoboard that will be visible from every seat in the house.
About Vancouver Whitecaps FC
In 1974, Vancouver Whitecaps FC played their inaugural season in the North American Soccer League, and in 1979, the club won the NASL Soccer Bowl championship. From 1987 to 1992, as a member of the Canadian Soccer League, Vancouver won four straight CSL titles. In 2002, Whitecaps FC created a full club model that encompasses professional teams for men and women, extensive youth development and grassroots participation programs, facility development, and the Whitecaps Foundation to support specific initiatives related to health and wellness through soccer. Since 2004, Whitecaps FC have won two United Soccer Leagues First Division championships and two USL W-League championships. In 2011, Whitecaps FC will begin their inaugural season in Major League Soccer at Empire Field before moving into the new BC Place Stadium in downtown Vancouver.
