Starlight Stadium (formerly Westhills Stadium) is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Langford, British Columbia, Canada. It is used by Pacific FC of the Canadian Premier League for soccer, by Rugby Canada for various events, and by the Westshore Rebels junior Canadian football team. In an international context, its most notable usage is as the site of the Canada Women's Sevens, an event in the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series for national rugby sevens teams. The stadium also hosted the BC Bears of the Canadian Rugby Championship from 2009 to 2013, and the Victoria Highlanders soccer team from 2009 to 2011.
 Starlight Stadium in 2022 | |
 | |
| Former names | Bear Mountain Stadium (2009–2012) Westhills Stadium (2012–2021) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1089 Langford Pkwy, Victoria, BC V9B 0A5 |
| Coordinates | 48°26′35″N 123°31′25″W / 48.44306°N 123.52361°W |
| Elevation | 123 m (404 ft) |
| Public transit | BC Transit routes 39, 46, 58, 65 |
| Parking | Parking at Langford City Centre Park |
| Owner | City of Langford |
| Operator | City of Langford |
| Executive suites | 18 |
| Capacity | 6,000 |
| Record attendance | 6,102 (CanWNT vs Australia Women, December 1 2023) |
| Surface | FieldTurf |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 2009 |
| Expanded | 2019 |
| Construction cost | CA$3 million |
| Tenants | |
| Rugby Canada 2009–present Westshore Rebels (CJFL) 2009–present Pacific FC (CPL) 2019–present BC Bears (CRC) 2009–2013 Victoria Highlanders (PDL) 2009–2011 | |
| Website | |
| Starlight Stadium at Langford.ca | |
The main stadium seats 6,000 and has 18 VIP suites, four change rooms, officials' rooms, concession, storage, and public washrooms.[citation needed] The field is built to FIFA 2-Star and World Rugby specifications, able to accommodate soccer, football, and rugby matches.[1] Before expansion in 2019, the stadium had 1,600 permanent seats.[2]
Secondary field edit
There is a second artificial turf field about 100 metres (330 ft) to the west named Goudy Field that has seating for 1,500.[3] This second full-sized field is also FIFA 2-Star rated and can accommodate the Canadian Rugby Association football codes.[4][5]
History edit
Starlight Stadium at City Centre Park was opened in 2009 as Bear Mountain Stadium. On September 29, 2012, the name was changed to Westhills Stadium after a land development company.[6]
On July 20, 2018, It was first announced that Westhills would host Pacific FC of the Canadian Premier League beginning in 2019. The stadium underwent renovations to increase capacity to 6,000 and provide additional amenities.[7][8][9]
On March 27 and 31, 2020, the Canadian men's national soccer team was scheduled to play two friendly matches against Trinidad and Tobago at Westhills. On March 13, 2020, these matches were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.[10] The women's national team hosted Australia on December 1, 2023, as part of a farewell tour for Christine Sinclair. The match had 6,102 spectators and ended in a 5–0 victory for Canada.[11]
In April 2021, the stadium was renamed to Starlight Stadium after a five-year naming rights deal. Toronto-based Starlight Investments will pay more than CA$500,000 for the rights with about 85% going to Pacific FC and the rest to the City of Langford.[12]
In February 2024, Starlight Stadium hosted 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup matches despite Pacific FC's failure to qualify. Due to a scheduling conflict in BC Place and weather concerns at ATCO Field, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Cavalry FC arranged to play their first-round home matches in Langford.[13][14] The front offices said that Starlight Stadium was the closest available venue that met CONCACAF's stadium standards.[13][14]
Rugby union edit
| Date | Away | Score | Home | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 4, 2017 | Argentina XV  |
20–6[15] |  Canada |
2,000 |
| February 11, 2017 | Chile  |
15–36[16] | Canada |
1,509 |
| February 17, 2018 | Brazil  |
5–45 | Canada |
1,500 |
| February 22, 2019 | Chile |
0–56 | Canada |
1,000 |
| March 1, 2019 | Argentina XV |
39–23 | Canada |
— |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Dept., Lanford Parks (2009). "British Columbia: Province Cup 1922–1941" (PDF). City of Langford 2009 Annual Report. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
- ^ "Langford To Build Its Own Stadium". Victoria Times Colonist.
- ^ "Rugby Canada eyes Langford stadium". Victoria Times Colonist.
- ^ Dept., Lanford Parks (2010). "British Columbia: Province Cup 1922–1941" (PDF). City of Langford 2010 Annual Report. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
- ^ "City of Langford - City Centre Park". www.langford.ca.
- ^ Annicchiarico, Mario (September 29, 2012). "Bear Mountain Stadium takes Westhills name". The Victoria Times Colonist. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
- ^ "Stadium Profile: Pacific FC". pacificfc.canpl.ca. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ "Victoria is in for CanPL: League exploring "several opportunities" on Lower Mainland". The 11. June 1, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
- ^ Dheensaw, Cleve. "Greater Victoria to get pro soccer team next year". Times Colonist. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
- ^ "Canada Soccer cancels upcoming CanMNT friendlies at Westhills Stadium". Pacific FC. March 13, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ Dheensaw, Cleve (December 1, 2023). "Capacity crowd in Langford cheers Christine Sinclair and Team Canada to victory". Times Colonist. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ Dheensaw, Cleve (April 15, 2021). "Starlight era begins at Langford stadium". Times Colonist. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ a b "Whitecaps FC to host Tigres UANL at Starlight Stadium in Langford, BC on February 7". Whitecaps FC. December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
- ^ a b "Club Statement Regarding 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Round One Venue". Cavalry FC. December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
- ^ https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2017/02/05/argentina-slide-past-canada-snow/
- ^ https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2017/02/12/paris-treble-leads-canada-past-chile/