PROPOSED WHITECAPS WATERFRONT STADIUM OPEN HOUSE DATES ANNOUNCED

The City of Vancouver and Vancouver Whitecaps will host three Open Houses next week to showcase the Central Waterfront Hub Study and the revised proposed Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium site. The public is strongly encouraged to attend one of the public open houses, scheduled by the City of Vancouver. Feedback provided by residents, community groups and businesses will be integral to the success of this project. Currently, the City of Vancouver is conducting a 16 month planning process to create an Urban Design and Transportation Plan for the Central Waterfront Hub area around Waterfront Station. Early stages of this planning process will also involve a review of the revised proposed Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium. The review will focus primarily on demonstrating the ability to the resolve five key requirements raised by Vancouver City Council last July. The results of the review will be presented to Council this summer, at which time Council will decide whether the proposed stadium will proceed to a rezoning process. Open Houses will be held on the following dates: Date: Tuesday, March 6, 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Location: Waterfront Station Concourse (East end), 601 West Cordova Street Date: Thursday, March 8, 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Location: Chinese Cultural Centre Auditorium, 50 East Pender Street * Chinese translation will be available at this session Date: Saturday, March 10, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Location: Central Library Concourse (North end), 350 West Georgia Street Individuals unable to attend any of the Open Houses can provide written comments by emailing Matt Shillito, Project Planner for the City of Vancouver at matt.shillito@vancouver.ca.

This is a great chance for any of you who have concerns about the proposed stadium, including YOU, Albert H, so you can go up to Lenarduzzi and say, "Aye!!! I hear you building the stadium over the ocean??? Oh Bobby Len, you crazzzzy!!!"

The Vancouver Whitecaps will be appearing at the Richmond Winter Festival Countdown Celebration 2007 this Saturday, February 10, 2007!

This outdoor event will be from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.; located at Richmond City Hall and Brighouse Park, Granville Avenue and No. 3 Road, Richmond.

Representatives from the Whitecaps will be located close to Gate D at site #19, next to the CTV stage / audio tower at Brighouse Park. Come by for some tattoos, posters or even a chance to win tickets for a Whitecaps game this upcoming season! In addition, Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Martin Nash will be signing autographs from 5 p.m. - 6.p.m while Andrea Neil and Amy Apps will be signing autographs from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Admission is free. Donations of non-perishable food items will be accepted on behalf of the Richmond Food Bank.

There will be 4 entrances to the event.
Gate A is located at Granville Avenue and Minoru Blvd
Gate B is located at No. 3 Road and Granville Avenue
Gate C is located in between Bennett Road / Granville Avenue and No. 3 Road
Gate D is located in between Bennett Road / Granville Avenue and Minoru Blvd

The Richmond Winter Festival will also feature an outdoor skating party, street fair with live musical and multicultural entertainment, a special lighting ceremony countdown to 2010 at 6:30 p.m. and a spectacular fireworks finale at 8:45. Other highlights include a main stage with headline Canadian talent Hedley, food & beverage vendors, speakers, an Imagine 2010 display, and interactive winter sports demonstrations.

CTV News at Six Weekend Edition and Z-95 FM radio station will be broadcasting live on location.

Free parking is available at Richmond High School, 7171 Minoru Blvd. Or at Minoru Park, 7191 Granville Avenue or at Richmond Centre Mall (do not park in the Sears Parking Tower, as it may close before the event is complete). Pay parking is available at Richmond Caring Place (140 -7000 Minoru Boulevard).