Vancouver's newest pro soccer team will play at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby
The city’s newest professional soccer team, Vancouver Rise FC, has found a home stadium.
The club, which will be competing in the brand-new Northern Super League, will play their home matches at Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium. The pitch has been home to various local soccer teams and will soon add Rise FC to a long list of historical tenants.
“We’re proud to announce Swangard Stadium as the home of Vancouver Rise FC,” said club president Sinead King in a press release.
“This iconic venue provides the perfect foundation to build a strong connection with our community and showcase top-tier women’s soccer. As we grow, we’re committed to working with our partners to enhance the stadium experience and create a home that reflects the ambitions of our club and our supporters.”
Swangard Stadium has a listed capacity of 5,288. It opened in 1969 and has been home to multiple local soccer teams since, including the Vancouver Whitecaps until 2010, the Whitecaps second team, and the TSS Rovers. It has also hosted various provincial and national competitions.
The Swangard Stadium bleachers (Vancouver Rise FC)
Rise FC is one of six clubs in the new Northern Super League, the top division for professional women’s soccer in the country. The first season will begin in April with the complete schedule still to be announced. The other teams are located in Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa.
Deposits to get on the season ticket holder list are now open and cost $50 per ticket.
Christine Sinclair, the best Canadian soccer player in history and a Burnaby native herself, is part owner of the new club, which will play in her hometown.
“We’re thrilled to see the return of professional soccer to Swangard Stadium, and to support Vancouver Rise FC as they add another chapter to the storied history of this facility,” said Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley.
“Bringing the Rise to Swangard is a natural fit – Burnaby is the hometown of the greatest player of all time, Christine Sinclair – and we are incredibly excited to see Burnaby residents embrace this team and organization as they inspire the future generation of Canadian women’s soccer stars.”