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Being a long-time MLS believer, and having grown up going to games in the world’s best-attended league, the German Bundesliga, I traveled Northern California and the Pacific Northwest last summer in search of the growing North American soccer culture. Here’s another set of random observations–this one from Vancouver’s BC Place, where I attended home side Whitecaps FC’s August 12 defeat to the San Jose Earthquakes (1-2) with a buddy of mine visiting from the Vaterland.
Spoiler alert
Throughout this piece, you’re going to find yourself repeatedly confronted with its overarching theme, which is that Whitecaps FC will eventually need a new venue if it wants to uncap its potential for growth (hence the title). The fact BC Place is over 30 years old means it wasn’t built according to size and design ideals now held throughout MLS. As a result, I believe it’s difficult for fans to form the kind of bond with their team that exists between, say, the Portland Timbers and their supporters, whom I had seen up close exactly one week prior to my Vancouver stop. It’s not surprising then that while the Timbers die-hards filled their sections early and made themselves heard during warm-ups, BC Place as a whole remained fairly empty up until a few minutes from the match (see photo below). As evidenced by the video of the singing of Canada’s national anthem, which immediately preceded kickoff, even the supporters section (comes into view around 0:42) didn’t completely fill up until after the ball started rolling. As I’ve mentioned in previous editions of this column, that’s something you wouldn’t see in the passionate soccer temples of Germany, or at Portland’s Providence Park for that matter.
Give the people what they deserve!
If you read the previous paragraph as a knock on Whitecaps FC supporters, let me disavow you of that notion. At first both my buddy Jan-Derk and I felt that the noise level at BC Place left a bit to be desired, but it picked up considerably once folks had settled into their seats and had some on-field happenings to get emotional about. Additionally, once I made my first trip around the stadium and strolled into the supporters section, it occurred to me there were a good number of gals and guys who screamed, chanted and sang throughout the 90 minutes. The problem? BC Place. Because it’s so big, sound simply isn’t contained well and struggles to travel from side to side. Let’s hope ‘Caps officials take this seriously and one day revisit plans to build a waterfront stadium (“on hold” since 2011) or find a different location for something more intimate, with better acoustics and without the need for what looks like giant bed sheets to cover the empty upper bowl. See the below image for a visual.
No place like home
In staying on message, I also want to stress the massive difference in perception between a stadium primarily controlled by the home team–such as San Jose’s Avaya Stadium and Portland’s Providence Park (although technically owned by the city of Portland)–and one which treats the team primarily as a tenant. While relevant visual elements such as team colors and crests were built into or painted onto the very fabric of the Quakes’ and Timbers’ respective venues, city-of-Vancouver-owned BC Place featured mostly banners, tarps (covering parts of the stands as well as openings therein) and other temporary solutions creating a connection between the building and the club renting it. Among the below images exemplifying this is one of the ‘Caps’ fan shop, which doesn’t have a permanent home inside the venue but was basically a sectioned off area whose boards and clothes racks were no doubt disassembled and stored away not long after the final whistle. Although not perhaps a key element, the ushers sporting BC Place gear as opposed to team gear fit in with the overall picture, as did the fact that cleaning was already underway while the game was still being played. If the stadium doesn’t scream passion and pride, how can home supporters be expected to reach their full potential?
And the crowd goes…flat.
Despite the aforementioned group of boisterous fans, being inside the Vancouver supporters section didn’t compare to what I had experienced inside the supporters sections in Portland’s or even San Jose, where I had also taken in a game during this trip. If you’re guessing that BC Place was the reason, you would be correct. While the good intentions of the ‘Caps faithful were very obvious, with nearly all of them on the south-west end standing and sporting team gear, the flat stands meant that the energy of the most rowdy bunch fizzled out as it traveled back through the rows. The farther I stood from the front, the quieter it got, with the majority of folks simply watching in silence, chatting to one another or sipping on their beers (see below for videos and for a pair of photos illustrating the somewhat underwhelming visual difference between the supporters section and the stadium’s opposite end). So, if you’ve ever wondered why most venues in Europe are built steep, and why MLS teams have been adopting that model, there’s your answer. Not only do steep stands keep in the noise, they also enable the die-hards to form one unit that is right on top of the action and able to maintain a constant visual with its cheerleaders. In analyzing the subpar energy level at BC Place, let’s also acknowledge the team had been on a downward spiral in league play and was sitting well outside the postseason picture. That said, I remain confident a stadium of ideal size and design would work wonders regardless of the home team’s record.
Size does matter aka. The sleeping giant
While we’re on the subject of size, I want to stress the usefulness of the aforementioned “bed sheets,” which beat the heck out of staring at 32,000 empty seats. With BC Place being much bigger than what’s preferred around the league these days, Whitecaps FC has to be applauded for making the most of a less-than-ideal setup. Part of the credit no doubt needs to go to the home fans, as they filled up the 22,000 or so seats made available in the lower bowl despite their club’s woeful season and the equally woeful opponent on the night. Here’s the thing though. Having to settle for less than ideal is always a bit dissatisfying. As good an idea as it is to partially block the visual of empty seats, one is constantly aware of the sheets and of what they are hiding. Obviously that’s a bit unfair, given few of Vancouver’s MLS rivals could sell out a 55,000-seater, but psychologically it’s still relevant. There’s simply a different feel to a smaller venue being completely packed than there is to part of a massive venue being filled with the same number of people. I keep harping on this point precisely because I see tremendous potential in the ‘Caps and their fan base. Given what they’re able to do at BC Place, try to picture them in their own home jam-packed with folks in white and blue and keeping in the sound the way a true soccer temple should.
How to shift into high “gear”
In adding to the previous paragraph, it should be mentioned plenty of folks outside the supporters section weren’t sporting any ‘Caps gear, which seems a clear indicator that the club needs to form tighter bonds with a significant percentage of its large pool of potential supporters. Without a doubt, this too is closely tied to not having the perfect stadium to be proud of, with many in attendance looking more like the type of casual fans who might have spontaneously opted to catch the game instead of a movie that night. Case in point, when I went to a a game at San Jose’s old, rinky-dink Spartan Stadium well over a decade ago, I saw very few in the stands wearing team gear, and not surprisingly the occasion lacked in vocal support for the home side. Fast-forward to the match at brand-new Avaya Stadium just days prior to my Vancouver stop, and this time I was greeted by jerseys, scarves, hats, beanies, a noisy supporters section and an overall feel of the game mattering. With the ‘Caps and their fans already light years ahead of early 2000s San Jose, there’s no question their own home would catapult them into the elite of MLS clubs.
Hats off to the cheerleaders!
Caps’ fans relative inhibition–whatever its causes exactly–made for a tough job on the part of those attempting to lead the supporters section in its chants and songs, so kudos to those guys for never slowing down until the last kick of the ball. There were actually a couple of times when I caught myself worrying they might get heckled. Not really, but you get my point. If you don’t, check out the videos below.
Open wide for some sweat and (fake) grass.
Vancouver fans’ willingness to show up and the die-hards’ potential for passion weren’t the only positives I took away form my visit to BC Place. Hanging out around the first, second and third rows behind both goals, it struck me that they offer a pretty cool view that has one expecting to get hit in the face with the ‘keeper’s sweat or a bunch of fake grass unearthed by a last-ditch tackle in the box. The following image gives a decent sense of just how close some folks were to the action. Now, if only the stands were steeper so those in subsequent rows could share in the joy.
Culture of positivity–continued
On another encouraging note, the supporters sections featured a varied mix of men, women, kids and teenagers, which made for an all-around peaceful atmosphere. The impression was later reinforced by a handful of police telling me that while the die-hards engage visiting fans with the occasional banter, it’s almost always friendly in nature. The officers added that even with traveling support of Cascadia rivals Portland or Seattle in town, passion and a healthy animosity don’t usually give way to the ugliness that is all too common in many soccer-affine countries around the globe. This fit in with a hypothesis I’ve formulated in previous editions of the Krauting Report, which is that because North American soccer fans bond over their shared minority status, most stadiums in these parts are bastions of positivity where malice and hostility tend to be frowned upon. It wasn’t surprising then that while hanging out among the supporters, I didn’t experience any negative reactions to my “VEGAN4PEACE” shirt (two very positive ones, in fact) or my LA hat, two clothing items which have come to be helpful in trying to gauge a crowd’s inclusiveness. Given all that, I won’t be too harsh in pointing out the complete absence of LGBTQ-supportive rainbow flags, which had been so prevalent at Portland’s Providence Park. Just a well-meaning note here that it would be nice to see a few of those sprinkled in if/when the ‘Caps get their own venue one day.
Changing of the guards
Allow me to go out on what I think is a pretty cool postgame snapshot from outside the locker rooms. In case you don’t recognize these handsome fellas, on the left is MLS legend and former ‘Quakes, Rapids, Galaxy and Whitecaps FC ‘keeper Joe Cannon, who retired as the Vancouver starter in 2013 and handed the gloves to the man on the right, Danish ace David Ousted, who has since accumulated well over 100 topflight appearances. Cannon was in town as the color commentator for San Jose’s KLIV radio and stopped by for a chat with his ‘Caps successor. Made me wonder which one of these two would win a poll for best ever ‘Caps goalie in MLS. Thoughts, anyone?
That’s all for now, folks. Stay tuned for my report from Seattle.
Gunnar Berndt is a long-time soccer writer and the former Director of Communications with USL side L.A. Blues (now Orange County SC), PASL side Anaheim Bolts and NWSL side Chicago Red Stars. Click here to follow Gunnar on Twitter!
