VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC will look to extend their four-match MLS unbeaten streak when they host Cascadia Cup rivals Portland Timbers on Vaisakhi Night at BC Place on Saturday. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m. PT.
The Vancouver and Surrey Vaisakhi parades are regularly among the world’s biggest outside of India, attracting over 350,000 people annually.
Here are a few important things to note as Whitecaps FC celebrate the South Asian community on Saturday:
Whitecaps FC Vaisakhi Night Timeline
6:15 p.m. PT – Supporters March to the Match leaves from the corner of Granville and Robson, featuring the Sikh Motorcycle Club and Dhol drummers
6:30 p.m. PT (approximate) – Supporters March to the Matcha arrives at Terry Fox Plaza
6:30 p.m. PT – Gates open at BC Place
- DJ Heer performing on the concourse at section 227(Gate C).
- Henna at section 209.
- Limited edition Vaisakhi scarves and shirts for sale at sections 205, 222, 233, 249. Partial proceeds donated to Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen.
- BC Place is donating $1 from every sale at Bombay Kitchen (section 220) to Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen. Whitecaps FC will match donations.
7:20 p.m. PT – Pre-match bhangra performance on the field from the Shan-E-Punjab Arts Club
7:25 p.m. PT – Special Kid Captain recognition
7:30 p.m. PT – Jugpreet Bajwa sings the national anthem
7:38 p.m. PT – Kid Captain leads a stadium-wide WHITE/CAPS chant before kickoff
Halftime: Shan-E-Punjab Arts Club returns for another performance
Whitecaps FC Vaisakhi logo
Whitecaps FC are bringing back the Vaisakhi logo designed by local artist Sandeep Johal.
Since working with the ‘Caps last year, Johal has also gone on to work with the Vancouver Canucks, designing their Diwali logo this season.
Vaisakhi Merchandise
Limited edition Vaisakhi shirts and scarves will be available for sale sections 205, 222, 233, 249. Partial proceeds donated to Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen.
March to the Match
Supporters will once again be teaming up with the Sikh Motorcycle Club, as well as dhol drummers from the Shan-E-Punjab Arts Club, for a spectacular and colourful March to the Match. Anyone interested in joining is encouraged to meet at the corner of Granville and Robson at 6:15 p.m. PT. To learn more about the Sikh Motorcycle Club, visit sikhmotorcycleclub.com.
Shan-E-Punjab Arts Club
Fans are encouraged to be in their seats early, as the Shan-E-Punjab Arts Club will be returning for a spectacular pre-match bhangra dancing performance. They will also be back at halftime to thrill fans at BC Place. To learn more about the Shan-E-Punjab Arts Club, visit spacbc.com.
Jugpreet Bajwa
Acclaimed and award-winning Bollywood singer and performer Jugpreet Bajwa returns to BC Place to sing the national anthems for a second straight season.
DJ Heer
Whitecaps FC welcome DJ Heer to Saturday’s match. The acclaimed DJ has also performed at Vancouver Canucks and BC Lions games, and traveled around North America and India. Recently, he also performed at a Dallas Stars game.
Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen
Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen will have an information booth at section 215.
GNFK was founded in 2006 by like-minded individuals who wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of residents from the Downtown EastSide Vancouver (DTES) and the Lower Mainland. With the basic principle of Sikhism, “Sarbhat da Bhalla” (well being of all), the organization established its motto as, “Love All Feed All” and began serving cooked meals for those in need. For more information, visit gnfk.org.
Community Soccer Experience
On Monday, Whitecaps FC brought the Community Soccer Experience, presented by BMO and TELUS, to students from Senator Reid Elementary School in Surrey. Whitecaps FC grassroots coaches, alongside ‘Caps legend Carl Valentine, ran a soccer clinic. The school received 100 tickets to Saturday's match, including two for every student who participated in the clinic.
Stand by Me
Make sure to stay in your seats post-match for every Whitecaps FC home win. Get your phones out and join the team in the singing of Stand by Me!
$5 Menu!
BC Place has announced a new $5 menu, in collaboration with Sodexo Live!, including $5 beer, hot dogs, nachos, and popcorn. Limited-release items may appear on the menu throughout the year.
The $5 Menu is available at Dawson’s Hot Dogs stands at sections 201 and 227.
Kids combo
The Kids Combo returns at Dawson’s Hot Dogs (214 and 241). The combo is $6 for a hot dog or chicken strips, fries, and a drink.
Flex pass
Want more matches for your money?
Pick three or more matches from only $66 and unlock exclusive benefits: whitecapsfc.com/flex.
Gates
Gates A, C, H, E, G, and the Accessible drop-off/pick-up located along Pacific Boulevard at section 147 will all be open for entry starting at 6:30 p.m. PT. Gates for suite entry will open at 6 p.m. PT.
Kickoff is officially at 7:39 p.m. PT.
The Asahi Super Dry Landing
The Asahi Super Dry Landing provides the perfect atmosphere to kick back with the squad, entertain clients, or enjoy an evening with the family with the best views in BC Place – right behind the player benches!
Make sure to visit the Thirsty Pigeon stands on the concourse to get your Asahi beer.
Last call
The last call for alcohol in the stadium will be the 75th minute of the match.
Videoboard special messages
Get on the big screen at BC Place!
You can get your personalized message on the videoboard during an upcoming Whitecaps FC match. All proceeds go to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Fill out the form at whitecapsfc.com/matchday/videoboard.
Group tickets
Bring the whole squad.
Save up to 33% and get access to special experiences when you buy 10+ tickets. Contact groups@whitecapsfc.com.
Clear bags/Bag Check
For ease of entry, Whitecaps FC and BC Place recommend you don’t bring a bag to the stadium.
If you do bring a bag, make sure it’s made of clear plastic and smaller than 12”x12”x6”. Exceptions will be made for diaper bags and medically necessary items that do not fit into a clear bag. You can bring one small opaque bag, but it can’t be larger than 6.5”x 8.5”. All bags will be inspected prior to entry.
Mobile entry
All tickets for Whitecaps FC matches are through mobile ticketing, providing a contactless and paperless experience.
Season ticket members and pack holders will need to access their tickets through whitecapsfc.com/accountmanager. Single match buyers will access their tickets through Ticketmaster.
Cashless transactions
In order to reduce the potential for hand-to-hand contact, and to improve the efficiency of payment transactions, BC Place is now a cashless venue.
Concessions and food and beverage vendors will accept all major digital forms of payment including Mobile, Debit Cards, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Google Pay and Apple Pay. Cash payments will not be accepted.
There will be a Cash to Card kiosk located at Sec 235 where guests can exchange cash for cards to use at the food and beverage locations throughout the stadium.
Celebration Matches
Keep an eye out for a number of special events throughout the season celebrating our community. Next up is Next Gen Night against Seattle Sounders FC on May 20: whitecapsfc.com/news/whitecaps-fc-announce-2023-celebration-matches.
