The Vancouver Whitecaps announced on Thursday morning they would be playing host to English Premier League club Manchester City in the teams first international friendly.
“We are very excited in our inaugural season to be bringing a team into face us with such high calibre,” said Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi.
The match between the two clubs will take place on Monday July 18th at 7pm from Empire Field.
As a bonus season ticket holders will be able to attend the game for no additional charge, “We want to give our season ticket holders something as a token of our appreciation,” said Whitecaps CEO Paul Barber.
Tickets for the game will start at a base price of $60 and may go up depending on how close to the action you want to be seated.
As what most American teams do when they bring in a European Club, the Whitecaps will have the Empire Field turf changed to grass to accommodate Manchester City.
Current Vancouver Whitecap player Terry Dunfield played some of his career for City and is very excited about the chance, “Oh, it’s going to be huge, I can’t wait for the game, I will always remember the time I spent with ManCity.
Another Vancouver Whitecap player has a Manchester City connection but for all the wrong reasons, John Thorrington spent time with Manchester City and really doesn’t have too much love for the storied rivalry, “It will be fun, I grew up not liking them, played not liking them and since I will be a member of the Whitecaps I’m pretty sure I won’t like them. It will be fun for Terry (Dunfield) though, he spent time with City and there may be some locker room trash talk leading up to game day.”
It may very well be an interesting week for soccer fans on the west coast as Whitecaps fans will get the chance to see Manchester City play at Empire Field but they will also have the luxury of going to Seattle when the Sounders host Manchester United on July 20th just two days after the Whitecaps game.
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