The Island has been awarded a Major League Soccer franchise — at least for this week.
The Vancouver Whitecaps will become the Vancouver Island Whitecaps for their CONCACAF Champions League game against Liga MX giant Tigres UANL on Wednesday night at Starlight Stadium.
“As we enter our 50th anniversary season, it’s fitting that we play a match on Vancouver Island, a community that has passionately supported this club since the beginning,” Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster said in a statement.
Limited-edition Vancouver Island Whitecaps gear will be available for purchase at the game. The contest is close to being sold out with only a few seats remaining through Ticketmaster as of Monday.
“This club belongs to the community, so we are pleased to do this small gesture to show our appreciation for the warm welcome that we have been receiving,” Schuster said.
The Whitecaps-Tigres game was shifted to the Island from B.C. Place due to a scheduling conflict with a home and garden show.
Starlight Stadium was packed, but the reception not quite so warm, for the Whitecaps the last two times the team appeared in the Langford facility.
That’s because they were facing Island-based Pacific FC of the Canadian Premier League both times in the Canadian Championship tournament — a pulsating 4-3 PFC quarter-final victory over the Whitecaps in 2021 and the 3-0 semifinal Whitecaps win over PFC last year en route to the Canadian Championship title which earned the ’Caps their place in this year’s CONCACAF Champions League.
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.
