The Vancouver Whitecaps made their play for MLS official today (including the British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell) following their meeting with the MLS Board of Governors in Toronto. Steve Nash (whose bro Martin plays for the ‘Caps) will be part of the ownership group - check out his video on the Whitecaps website. Their stadium would appear to be BC Place (think 80s style Pontiac Silverdome/Minneapolis Metrodome) . There has been SSS talk and maybe that will progress too but BC Place is undergoing big changes. The current BC Place has just begun a huge refurbishment top-to-bottom for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The “New BC Place” is scheduled to be ready for the games, and following the Olympics will have a new retractable fabric roof to be completed by July, 2010 (pictured above).

Who is Greg Kerfoot, owner of the Whitecaps? He is an advisor to the government, a wealthy guy, and a huge soccer fan. Very ambitious plans here and many bases seem covered. Exciting times. (Or are the times a little too exciting….)

Image via Canada

Hops just had a sideline interview with a man that could be the “Designated Player” of franchise ownership after it’s all said and done, Canadian and Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash.

Remember not too long ago when Seattle announced that Drew Carey was involved and how much press that got, this will be even bigger.

Having a guy that is a BIG TIME athlete and is known worldwide legitimizes MLS just a little bit more and will continue to strengthen the foundation of this league.

Steve Nash gets it. Not only does he get it, he’s breaking down barriers that we and MLS can’t.  He’s a unifier and has the ability to do it at a completely different level.

Of course Vancouver will get an MLS team within the next three seasons. And they should, because they’ve proven that they have a solid product already on the field and already has amazing support in the stands that are there week in and week out for the Whitecaps (and don’t forget the two LA Galaxy friendlies).

And Steve said it best, “We hope to replicate what Toronto FC has done.”

image via Benefeco

MLS Commish Don Garber has released a statement regarding the BC Place stadium renovation project.

I remember the days back in 2001 when the Tampa Bay Mutiny and the Miami Fusion (which I was a part of) were contracted, so to hear that expansion is possible happening again is a great thing.

But we should be sure that the product on the field is as valuable as it is up in the stands.

50k in 2007 and 37k this year for Galaxy exhibitions are good numbers though.

Please just make sure the renovations include GRASS. I’ll say it again, GRASS!

image via Destinations360 and Vancouver2010