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Vancouver Whitecaps to allow fans for designated home games at Rio Tinto Stadium

The capacity initially will be 2,000, but can increase if there is more demand.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The stadium is empty minutes before the match was supposed to start as the game between Real Salt Lake and LAFC was postponed after teams in sports leagues across the country boycotted scheduled games to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake, RSL and LAFC followed suit, along with the rest of MLS, on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020.

Soccer fans in Utah will get a chance to take in some extra games in the month of July.

The Vancouver Whitecaps on Friday announced they will allow fans for their next three designated home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. The team has been in Utah for the start of the 2021 Major League Soccer season due to travel restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have been pleasantly surprised with the interest from the local community to attend our home matches here in Utah,” Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC sporting director and chief executive officer, said in a statement. “We miss our fans at BC Place, and we are very optimistic about playing in front of them later this season. Until then, our coaches and players have made clear that they would embrace the opportunity to play in front of fans here during any match.”

Fans will be allowed at the June 23 match against the L.A. Galaxy, the July 7 match against Real Salt Lake and the July 17 match against the Galaxy.

A Whitecaps spokesperson said the capacity at the RioT will be based on demand. Initially, 2,000 tickets will be available for Vancouver games, with the opportunity to increase that number.

Tickets are available at at www.whitecapsfc.com/tickets and www.riotintostadium.com. RSL season ticket holders will receive an email giving them the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets for the three games.

Vancouver will play designated home matches at Rio Tinto through the end of July.