What is all the fuzz about our new turf really about?
Alex Rickman (he/him) // Contributor
Freya Emery (she/her) // Illustrator
In November, the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) hosted their women’s soccer championship at CapU’s new Squamish campus, where the Blues brought home the bronze medal. But how fancy is this new, $1.1 million facility, really? Is it worth a visit from students on the North Shore or across metro Vancouver to take in a game? After making the trek up there myself, I can confidently say; it depends.
Upon arriving at the field, the thing you notice first is not the pitch itself, but the stunning view of the mountains. With all the soccer pitches I have seen across B.C., with some having beautiful views, I can say none have compared to this setting. Beyond this stunning mountain view, what else makes this field outstanding? The newly installed FIFA-grade turf field looks immaculate. From the beautiful shade of green to the CapU logo in the centre circle, a rarity in the soccer world, this is an impressive-looking facility. After stepping on the field and speaking to some Squamish locals as well, I can confidently say that this may be the highest quality turf field in the Lower Mainland—even beating the surface at BC Place, which I have had the privilege of playing on.
Despite the beauty of the pitch, it’s far from a perfect facility in terms of fan experience. While there’s a hill next to the field practically asking to have nice bleachers put up, there is a lack of seating near the pitch. While I personally prefer to take in a match standing, I know this is not the case for many, so the lack of bleachers or additional seating could be an inconvenience for those hoping to enjoy a game. Beyond that, there is not, to my knowledge, anywhere to get a bite to eat or a drink in the immediate vicinity of the field. So if you’re planning to go for an extended period of time, bringing your own food and drinks might be a good idea.
With everything in mind, the question of whether or not a trip to this field is ‘worth it’ must be answered with a strong maybe. If you intend to drive the 45 plus minutes to and from the North Vancouver campus to watch a single game, I would frankly lean towards saying no. However, if a tournament like the CCAA championship is hosted and multiple games are taking place in a single day, or you intend to make a full day of the trip to Squamish, it’s hard to deny the appeal of this gorgeous facility. A nice day out in Squamish’s crisp mountain air rarely sounds like a bad idea, so next time you need a day out with some time spent outside, check out a game on CapU Squamish’s new pitch.