Are You Ready?

It was officially announced today that the 2008 USL Champion Vancouver Whitecaps will be the 17th team in Major League Soccer (I've always hated that name) starting in 2011. Truthfully, I have mixed feelings about this. I'm definitely excited to see the team playing in the highest level of soccer available to them, and excited to see what will happen club-wise, supporter-wise etc. But on the other hand, I think in the move from Swangard stadium to BC Place we're going to lose something. I really like the atmosphere at Swangard; the cool air on those spring nights, the mountain view from the south side, the proximity to the field, even the drizzle on the rainy long weekends. There's something special there that I fear won't translate to the mammoth stadium that is BC Place, even transformed to be soccer specific with the roof open. I hope I'm wrong of course, that what we lose in quaintness we make up for in atmosphere, that we have 15 000 chanting and singing supporters at every game. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. I also assume that ticket prices and beer prices will go up. I give two resounding thumbs down to that. But my feelings aside, the train has left the station, we're going to MLSville and I'm glad to be on the train. So let me make this official: this is the beginning of the "Bring Thierry Henry to Vancouver" campaign. You read it here first! Come on Whitecaps!