Vancouver Rise FC is set to move into Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium for its inaugural 2025 season.

The new professional women’s football club, which is part of the Northern Super Leaguemade a presentation to Burnaby City Council on October 21 for use of Central Park stadium, from April 2025.

During the public portion of the meeting, some councilors expressed concerns about the displacement of community groups who use the facilities in summer, but, in a closed-door decision released this week, the council unanimously ordered the staff to “work with Vancouver Rise FC’s request for the use of Swangard Stadium under the city’s existing interim allocation policy for 2025.”

The policy, a framework to ensure a “fair and equitable” interim allocation of local parks and recreation facilities, prioritizes uses by and for Burnaby residents, but also supports the enhancement of sporting opportunities and recognizes challenges faced by girls and women who wish to participate in sports.

The Council decision of October 21, published in its Council agenda for November 4said the board chose “option 3 in the report titled “Vancouver Rise FC – Partnership Proposal” dated October 21, 2024.”

Preliminary negotiations

THE Burnaby NOW asked the city for a copy of the proposal, but was told it was denied under the Community Charter, which allows preliminary negotiations over the provision of a municipal service to be kept secret if making them public would cause harm to the interests of the city.

In addition to directing staff to work with Rise FC for 2025, the board further directed staff to “complete an evaluation of a potential partnership with Vancouver Rise FC following the 2025 season.”

Council’s decision suggests staff will evaluate a formal partnership with the club after allowing the team to play at Swangard for the 2025 season on an interim basis, but the city has not directly confirmed the team will play at the stadium at next spring.

“Staff were asked to work with Rise FC on their application under the City’s existing interim allocation policy for the 2025 season and to continue to work with them to evaluate their proposal following the 2025 season,” a statement said. Public Affairs Officer Cole Wagner said in an emailed statement.

Vancouver Rise FC did not respond to a request for comment.

“Fantastic opportunity”

The team is currently scheduled to play 12 home games between April and November, according to president Sinead King’s presentation to the board during the public portion of the Oct. 21 meeting.

For Swangard to meet league standards, she said it would need to upgrade the field and locker rooms and increase seating capacity from its current 4,500 seats to a minimum of 6,000.

But King said the team could make short-term compromises in the first year, including temporary bleachers, an increase in general admission to standing room or a locker room trailer, if the city seriously proposed d improve the stadium in the long term.

Pitch improvements are expected to begin before Christmas, however, according to King, to regenerate the grass and soil before kick-off in April 2025.

King said Swangard was a “fantastic opportunity” for the club and highlighted his owners including football legend Christine Sinclairhave a “very, very strong connection” to Burnaby.

With files from Lauren Vanderdeen.

Follow Cornelia Naylor on X/Twitter @CorNaylor

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