VANCOUVER, BC – The countdown is officially on – if it wasn’t already, that is.
In exactly two months time, Vancouver Whitecaps FC will kick off their fourth season in Major League Soccer against the defending Supporters Shield-winning New York Red Bulls at BC Place.
The 2014 season also happens to be Whitecaps FC’s 40th anniversary – the club began playing in the old North American Soccer League back in 1974 – and a number of exciting initiatives are planned to celebrate the occasion.
Anticipation for the start of the season continues to build and that’s sure to amplify in the upcoming weeks. There’s a lot of work left between now and March 8, so here are a few important dates to remember as MLS First Kick draws closer.
January 10-14: 2014 MLS Player Combine
The 2014 adidas MLS Player Combine will take place at Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida. Coaching staffs from all 19 MLS clubs will be on hand to watch the 64 participants showcase their skills with the hopes of hearing their names called at the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. The combine will include fitness testing, six matches, as well as time allotted for player interviews with the clubs.
January 16: 2014 MLS SuperDraft
The 2014 MLS SuperDraft is set for 9 a.m. PT on January 16 at the Philadelphia Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The ‘Caps hold seven picks in the four-round draft, including the third and seventh overall selections.
January 25: Players report for Medical Day
Whitecaps FC’s 2014 training camp will get underway on January 25 when players report to Vancouver for medical testing. A week of training in Vancouver will follow Medical Day.
February 3-12: Off to Arizona
For the fifth consecutive year, the ‘Caps will travel south for an extended stay at the Grande Sports World as part of their preseason training camp. The 10-day trip will include a non-gated preseason friendly on February 10 against Houston Dynamo in Tucson, Arizona. Additional matches will be confirmed in the coming days.
February 18: Preseason Transfer Window
Major League Soccer’s preseason transfer window, the period during which MLS teams may request the transfer certificate of a player under contract in another country, is scheduled open on February 18 and run until May 12. The ‘Caps signed both Nigel Reo-Coker and Johnny Leveron shortly after the opening of last year’s preseason window.
February 23-March 1: Rose City Invitational
This preseason tournament will consist of three doubleheaders at JELD-WEN Field in Portland, with Whitecaps FC and Jamaican club Portmore United FC set to kick off the round-robin format on February 23 at 2:30 p.m. PT. Next up, Whitecaps FC will meet San Jose Earthquakes on February 26 at 5 p.m. PT, before concluding the tournament against the host Portland Timbers on March 1 at 5 p.m. PT.
March 8: MLS First Kick
Whitecaps FC will kick off their fourth season in MLS on March 8 (4:30 p.m. PT kickoff) against the New York Red Bulls at BC Place - TV: TSN. The ‘Caps are a perfect 3W-0L-0D in each of their previous three season openers and have not lost to the Eastern Conference powerhouse in four MLS meetings.
Whitecaps FC 2014 season tickets start at just $349, subject to applicable fees. The 'Caps are also offering a flexible range of ticket products, including half-season tickets ($244), 5-packs ($149), student season tickets ($199), and a youth soccer half-season ticket ($100). For more information on all Whitecaps FC ticket options, call 604.669.9283 ext. 2 or visitwhitecapsfc.com/tickets.
