The Vancouver Whitecaps MLS Story So Far

Vital Toronto FC takes a look at the short history of the Vancouver Whitecaps MLS Franchise.

The Vancouver franchise was granted status on March 18, 2009 by MLS Commissioner Don Garber as the seventeenth franchise of Major League Soccer who will being play this Saturday against Canadian rivals Toronto FC. The name Whitecaps was not confirmed at the launch of the franchise, although many sites had already called the team the Vancouver Whitecaps prior to any official announcement.

On June 8, 2010, it was officially announced that the team would use the 'Whitecaps' name that was previously by the team that played in the USSF Division 2. The club unveiled a new club badge made of deep sea blue, light blue and white, The design indicates the reflection of the North Shore Mountains in the Pacific Ocean.

The club later unveiled their home and away kit, Their home kit is provided by adidas as all kits in MLS are and is white with thin blue stripes going across the shirt, The away shirt is a deep sea blue with white piping. The clubs main shirt sponsor will be Bell Canada, who are a Canadian Telephone Company who are named after Alexander Graham Bell who invented the telephone.

The club will kick off their first season at Empire Field, which is a temporary facility that will be shared with the Canadian Football League`s (CFL) B.C. Lions as their home stadium BC Place is renovated.

The Whitecaps were hoping to build a Waterfront Stadium in Vancouver City Centre in time for the 2016 Major League Soccer season, however those plans were put on hold in early 2011 with the club saying they are committed to BC Place.

Vancouver`s first player and captain was former Watford defender Jay DeMerit who had been linked with many English/Welsh clubs including Cardiff City, Swindon Town and QPR.

Vancouver won't be the last Canadian team to join the league as the Montreal Impact will join MLS for the 2012 season and will play at Saputo Stadium which is located beside the Olympic Stadium the former home of the now defunct Major League Baseball franchise, Montreal Expos.

Ottawa has also launched a bid to get an MLS Franchise although political issues regarding planning permission for a new stadium may stop them from getting a team anytime in the near future.

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