Vancouver Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot's Gastown waterfront field of dreams appears to be sinking.
In 2005, the Caps proposed building a 15,000-30,000-seat waterfront stadium above the train tracks. City council gave conditional approval, but recommended the team make a land-swap deal with Port Metro Vancouver for a better site. Talks have been fruitless.
"That's something we're not discussing," said Whitecaps' president Bob Lenarduzzi. "We're ecstatic about (playing at the temporary Empire Stadium) and the fact we'll be moving into B.C. Place in 2011."
The Caps will play a friendly in 2010 at the $14.4 million temporary stadium on the former Empire Stadium site at the Pacific National Exhibition grounds and use the pitch for their Major League Soccer debut in 2011.
B.C. Place Stadium will be ready for occupancy by the end of July 2011 and that could be the permanent home of soccer in downtown Vancouver.
Asked when the Whitecaps last met with the Port to discuss the stadium proposal, Lenarduzzi said: "It's not even something we want to talk about."
"There's no point dwelling on something that has moved very, very slowly."
