The current field at B.C. Place is six years old; it was installed in May 2015, just one month before the stadium was one of six Canadian cities to host games in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
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B.C. Place’s playing surface is finally getting turfed.
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The much-maligned artificial playing field and home grounds of both the Vancouver Whitecaps and B.C. Lions is slated for replacement starting this December.
The project is slated to be wrapped up by Jan. 21, just nine days before the Canadian men’s soccer team is scheduled to host the U.S. in World Cup qualifying.
The deadline for bids closed at 2 p.m. on Friday.
The current field is six years old; it was installed in May 2015, just one month before B.C. Place was one of six Canadian cities to host games in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The current Polytan LigaTurf RS+, installed for a reported cost of $1.32-million contract by Burnaby-based Centaur Products , has been a source of debate since it was installed. The Whitecaps often saw the stars on visiting teams not play because of the turf.
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One of the requirements for the winning bid will be the installation of a synthetic system that fully meets FIFA Quality Pro and World Rugby Regulation 22 requirements and maintain that quality for a minimum of five years.
The B.C. Pavilion Corporation (PavCo) listed the B.C. Lions, Vancouver Whitecaps and HSBC Canada Sevens (rugby) as uses for the field, as well as FIFA World Cup qualifying matches and regional tournaments.
FieldTurf, the system used by both the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders — the latter cohabitating with the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field — use FieldTurf, a product many others defend as the gold standard for soccer. FieldTurf’s bid for B.C. Place received a 10 out of 10 from the bid committee, as revealed in documents released by PavCo in 2015 .
Due to the open and ongoing nature of the bidding process, PavCo was unable to comment on the current plan to replace the turf.
The work during the winter months means that B.C.’s high school football championships, traditionally held at B.C. Place, will have to find a new home for 2021.
B.C. Place set to replace its turf — just in time for World Cup qualifying - The Province
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