Ben Steiner

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Nestled below the Coast Mountains, BC Place can feel small in the demanding mystique of Vancouver’s natural beauty.

The resplendent peaks defining the skyline helped inspire Vancouver Whitecaps FC ’s name before they kicked off in the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1974, but since joining MLS in 2011, the Whitecaps have yet to reach a pinnacle moment.

“I didn’t know anything about the city when the job first came up. I knew it hosted the Vancouver 2010 [Winter] Olympics,” CEO and sporting director Axel Schuster told MLSSoccer.com, recalling his arrival.

“It's a beautiful place, and that can also be helpful sometimes to attract players.”

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