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UBC welcomes Whitecaps FC and National Soccer Development Centre to campus

The University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus will be the home of a new training facility which will form the centerpiece of the proposed National Soccer Development Centre (NSDC) – a new athletic facility to be shared by Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the university and community.

Formed out of a partnership between UBC, the Government of British Columbia and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the centre will include two new artificial fields, three new refurbished or improved grass fields, and a fieldhouse.

The centre will serve UBC’s varsity and UBC REC athletes, Whitecaps FC men’s, women’s, and Residency teams, and Canada’s men’s, women’s, and youth national teams. More than 50 per cent of the field time has been dedicated to community programs.

“The new National Soccer Development Centre will be a cornerstone for UBC’s community athletic programs and we are delighted that members of our community as well as our students and athletes will enjoy world-class athletic facilities on campus,” said Louise Cowin, Vice President, Students. “We look forward to growing the sport of soccer and other athletic programs in the community.”

UBC will continue to play a leadership role in hosting, planning or organizing community sport activities, expanding on existing camps, leagues, programs and events. Currently community members make more than 700,000 visits to Thunderbird Park annually to participate in athletic activities and events. UBC expects this to grow through this new partnership.

The B.C. Government has committed $14.5 million to the centre, the Whitecaps are providing $15 million and UBC will provide the land.

The partnership was developed as part of the start an evolution* campaign. The centre is scheduled to be completed in advance of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup and will be situated in Thunderbird Park.

*The new facility forms part of UBC’s start an evolution campaign, the most ambitious fundraising and alumni engagement campaign in Canadian history. For more information, visit http://startanevolution.ubc.ca.

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