BC Place in Vancouver, site of the 2015 World Cup final, will get new turf. (Photo: Canada Soccer)
Installation of a new $1.327 million (Canadian) turf at BC Place in Vancouver — site of the 2015 Women’s World Cup final — will begin on May 17. It is scheduled to be completed on May 29, one week before the start of the World Cup.
The Vancouver Whitecaps host the Seattle Sounders in a Major League Soccer match the night prior. The first World Cup games at BC Place are on June 8.
Centaur Products Inc. of Burnaby will install the German-made synthetic turf, according to the Vancouver Sun.
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FIFA will use artificial turf at all six Canadian venues for this year’s World Cup, a decision that drew legal action from a group of players. The legal claim was ultimately dropped due to a lack of time and movement on the subject, but Abby Wambach noted in an interview last week that FIFA promised her that no future Women’s World Cup will be played on turf. The 2019 edition will be played in France on natural grass.
Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium also needs new turf since faint football lines are visible on TV, which is against FIFA 2-star certification that is required for artificial turf at the World Cup.
