Whitecaps ’79 Championship Team Honoured

WHITECAPS ’79 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM HONOURED WITH SPECIAL BC SPORTS HALL OF FAME EXHIBIT

For immediate release May 31, 2019

Vancouver, BC – A special exhibit honouring the 40th anniversary of the Vancouver Whitecaps Soccer Bowl championship officially opens to the public, Saturday June 1st at the BC Sports Hall of Fame.

It Takes A Village honours the 1979 Whitecaps squad that won the North American Soccer League title, and in doing so, captured the hearts and imagination of people across British Columbia. The exhibit will include rare 1979 season artifacts, photos, archival film footage, and interactives on the greatest season in Whitecaps history – and is appropriately named, in recognition of sportscaster Jim McKay’s observation during the Whitecaps playoff run in 1979 that, “Vancouver must be like a deserted village right now.”

“We are honoured to play a part in celebrating one of the most significant sporting milestones in this province’s history,” said BC Sports Hall of Fame CEO Nicholas Cartmell. “This special exhibition relives those defining moments from 1979 and still provides inspiration for all of us today.”

Produced by the BC Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of the role the 1979 Whitecaps played in BC sport history, the exhibit will include over 200 artifacts, many of which have been provided on-loan from private collections. Highlights include the 1979 Soccer Bowl Trophy, Buzz Parsons and Phil Parkes game worn Soccer Bowl jerseys, Bob Lenarduzzi and Roger Kenyon 1979 jerseys, and a 1979 Soccer Bowl championship medal.

“The run to the 1979 NASL Soccer Bowl championship was a remarkable time for not only the club, but the entire City of Vancouver,” said Whitecaps FC President, Bob Lenarduzzi. “On behalf of all members of the ’79 team, we are extremely excited and grateful to the BC Sports Hall of Fame for bringing these memories back to life as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of that achievement.”

Other elements of the exhibit will include:

• Taking a seat on Empire Stadium seating to watch original archival footage from the Soccer Bowl match and a Vancouver Whitecaps produced documentary on the 1979 season
• Over 20 original photographs from 1979 Vancouver Whitecaps photographer Kent Kallberg, which include many images that have never been publicly displayed
• 25-foot history-wall, highlighting key moments and facts from the 1979 season
• Whitecaps alumni wall featuring player cards from over 30-team members
• Having your photo taken as a member of the 1979 Whitecaps, taking your place in the life size (16ft) face-in-hole photo activation
• Play a game of foosball and channel your favourite member of the 1979 Whitecaps

About the BC Sports Hall of Fame

The BC Sports Hall of Fame celebrates extraordinary achievement in BC sport history and inspires future generations to make their dreams come true. Each year, a diverse audience of over 35,000 visitors from around the globe are educated and enthralled by the collection of 27,000 artifacts and 100,000 archival documents representing 150-years of sporting accomplishments in British Columbia. Through the Hero in You Youth Education Programs, the BC Sports Hall of Fame reaches over 6,500 youth across the province, advancing its mission of building outstanding community legacies by honouring the past and inspiring the future.

For more information please visit: www.bcsportshalloffame.com follow us on twitter @bcsportshall and like us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/bcsportshall/

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Media Contact
Kelly Gleeson – LBMG
604-240-6231
Kgleeson@lbmg.ca