Vancouver Whitecaps Departs Utah & Returns To Canada

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Vancouver Whitecaps have left Utah and returned to Canada following a three-and-a-half-month stint playing “home” games at Rio Tinto Stadium.

The Caps called Utah home due to an immigration policy as a result of the global pandemic. However, after many, many weeks away from home, the Caps have returned to Vancouver.

“There is a lot of excitement being back here,” Manager Marc Dos Santos said in a press conference following the first training session back in Vancouver. “I think we would have had 20 points instead of 14 if the schedule was normal and we would have been home,” he added on the difficulties of playing “home” games in Utah.

Feels good to be back 🏠💙#VWFC | @Enerex pic.twitter.com/tCbisH0z8E

— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) July 27, 2021

Currently, Vancouver sits in 12th out of a possible 13 teams in the Western Conference on 14 points. The Caps have played 7 games at Rio Tinto Stadium as the home team this year, of the 7 games, they have won 3 of them, lost 3, and drawn 1 for a combined point tally of 10 points.

During the stint in Utah, Vancouver held a locker room at Rio Tinto Stadium and trained at America First Field. RSL and the Whitecaps never crossed paths with one and another in an effort to prevent any spread of Covid-19.

We’re home

— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) July 26, 2021

Despite being granted permission to return to Vancouver, the Caps will travel back to Utah and host Minnesota for one last home away from home game this upcoming Saturday.

That fixture will mark the end of a chapter in the Whitecaps history that will forever be remembered. Following the game against Minnesota, Vancouver will host home games at their usual BC Place.