No stadium for Whitecaps farm team in New West
Posted September 15, 2014 11:44 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
NEW WESTMINSTER(NEWS1130) – A plan to re-purpose a Metro Vancouver stadium for the Vancouver Whitecaps farm team has been nixed.
New Westminster City Council felt the numbers didn’t add up.
Councillor Chuck Puchmayr says there was a $7-8 million dollar gap for the proposed $11.4 million soccer pitch at Queen’s Park Stadium.
There were concerns by baseball users who would have to be relocated but Puchmayr says a majority of people were in favour of the proposal.
“A vocal minority were opposed to the proposal. It literally did not make economic sense for us. It was too rich for our city at this time.”
Puchmayr says traffic and parking was another concern, with only 550 parking spots at Queens Park Stadium.
A new Caps’ stadium would have had seating for 3500 plus standing room.
The Whitecaps may now be looking at Surrey, which is apparently interested in offering the USL farm team a new home.
A potential stadium would also see match action from other Whitecaps FC teams including the Girls Elite U-18 team and the Boys U-18 and U-16 residency teams.
