Rio Tinto Stadium To Host Vancouver Whitecaps Through July
May 28, 2021, 11:12 AM
(Yukai Peng, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Major League Soccer announced that the Vancouver Whitecaps will continue to play their home matches at Rio Tinto Stadium through July.
“As an organization, RSL remains committed to ensuring that Vancouver Whitecaps FC has all of the resources needed to be successful on the field and to feel at home in our city and stadium during their stay,” RSL Interim President John Kimball said. “We are proud to host Vancouver Whitecaps FC in their time of need and will continue to work diligently for as long as necessary to provide them with world-class amenities here in Salt Lake City.”
Vancouver has been playing matches in Sandy since the 2021 MLS season began in April due to immigration concerns between Canada and the United States as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic.
It remains unknown how long Vancouver will have to spend in Utah. However, Axel Schuster, CEO and Sporting Director for the Whitecaps stated that “we have been away from our city and out supporters for far too long and are optimistic we will once again be back home playing at BC Place this summer.”
💬 @TheAxelSchuster: "We have been away from our city and our supporters for far too long and are optimistic we will once again be back home playing at BC Place this summer."#VWFC
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) May 28, 2021
However, no fans are allowed inside the stadium for Vancouver home games. The Whitecaps have been and will continue, to play their home games in an empty Rio Tinto Stadium.
The Whitecaps currently sit in 10th place in the Western Conference after starting their season with two wins, one draw, and four losses. Their next game will be an “away” game against Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 18th after the international break.
Additionally, the Whitecaps match originally scheduled for Wednesday, July 21 against the Houston Dynamo has been moved to Tuesday, July 20 at Rio Tinto Stadium.