Latest News
Vancouver Whitecaps: One team. Three stadiums. Twelve months!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011 ~ 12:05pm
Paul Barber, CEO, Vancouver Whitecaps FC joins the international speaker programme of Stadium Business Summit 2011...
Three different home stadiums in the same year?!
This is the story of the re-birth of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC which has moved from Swangard Stadium (5,000 capacity) to Empire Field (a 27,500 capacity temporary stadium) and, this September, will move to the revamped, Can$660m BC Place (58,000 capacity) – all in a single year!
But this tale is about more than just stadiums. It is about the re-development of a soccer club in North America based on the European model of participation, grassroots development and community involvement. The aim? To be one of the Top 25 clubs in the world.
Former Tottenham Hotspur FC executive director, Paul Barber joined the Whitecaps in March last year and is the primary representative within the club for the team's ownership group as it embarks on its first season in MLS.
A former commercial and marketing director of The Football Association, Barber has extensive experience in football sponsorship, commercial activities, sports rights and women's, youth and grassroots development.
"Whitecaps were formed in 1974 and have played throughout the period since. Back in 1979, Whitecaps were North American Soccer League (NASL) Champions beating arch rivals New York Cosmos along the way," explains Barber. "So, this is actually the re-birth of the franchise to the top level of North American soccer."
Hear this remarkable story of a new team, new fanbase and new homes from Paul Barber, CEO, Vancouver Whitecaps FC only at Stadium Business Summit 2011.
