Langley stadium embraces modular construction method

Key Takeaways:

• Shipping containers with the stadium pieces arrived this month and the facility is expected to be ready in May.
• The stadium’s modern and improved modular design was partially inspired by Vancouver’s Empire Field which was a temp facility while construction was being done on BC Place.
• The soccer-specific stadium, a first in the Lower Mainland, will offer as many as 6,560 seats for fans.

The Whole Story:

Soccer fans won’t have to wait long for a new Vancouver FC stadium in Langley. 

Construction on the stadium will only take a few months thanks to prefabricated modular building techniques. 

The first shipping containers housing the club’s flat pack stadium arrived at the Port of Vancouver on Wednesday. Work is underway to lay the concrete foundations and site services that will support the prefabricated modular structure.

“The modular stadium system dramatically reduces onsite construction time and allows municipalities to create professional and intimate soccer-specific venues for a fraction of the budget typically spent on arenas and concrete stadiums,” said Dean Shillington, managing partner of SixFive Sports & Entertainment, parent company of SixFive Stadium Experience and Vancouver Football Club.

The stadium’s modern and improved modular design is based on the likes of Empire Field.  Empire was a multi-purpose stadium that stood at the Pacific National Exhibition site at Hastings Park. The temporary field was built to allow a new retractable roof to be installed at BC Place in 2010 and 2011. More recently, flat packed stadiums have been used for Olympic events as the stadium can be packed up and moved elsewhere once games are over.

The soccer-specific stadium, a first in the Lower Mainland, will offer as many as 6,560 local soccer fans an immersive game day experience during the club’s first season in 2023.

The stadium, located at Willoughby Community Park at the Langley Events Centre, is designed to grow with the club and its surrounding community, and is able to expand in capacity and amenities to serve its supporters now and in the future.

“We hope to create a true, authentic soccer destination for all,” said Shillington. “This stadium will become the heartbeat of the community for years to come and is a very flexible amenity that can expand as the sport of soccer continues to grow in Canada.”

Vancouver FC today revealed the first rendering of its new stadium ahead of the launch of ticket sales for the club’s inaugural season in the coming weeks. Vancouver is scheduled to host its inaugural home match on Sunday, May 7 at 4 p.m. PST against Cavalry FC. 

“We are delighted to share our vision for our future home with our fans, who can expect a stadium to rise before their eyes in the coming months as we look ahead to hosting our first match in club history later this year,” said Rob Friend, president, Vancouver FC. “We are excited to provide a proper football experience for every fan that walks through our doors, and to see this stadium come to life in the near future.”

The south end of the stadium will be home to Vancouver’s supporters’ groups. The east grandstand will be home to a Cabana Club, while VIP dining and Tunnel Club-style experiences will be offered below the west grandstand.

Vancouver’s youngest fans will be entertained in the Family Zone, located at the north end of the stadium. There will be several entertainment plazas located throughout the stadium, including an area designated to house a mini food truck festival on each match day, offering a selection of eats from local businesses.