Whitecaps score wins off pitch, add talent on

The Vancouver Whitecaps are just starting the 2016 season, but they have already scored some big wins.
Entering its sixth Major League Soccer season, the club has increased its season ticket base by about 1,500 to 15,500. As a result, the B.C. Place Stadium lower bowl has been reconfigured to allow for a maximum of 22,100 fans, up from the previous sellout mark of 21,000.
For games against L.A. Galaxy on April 2, Seattle Sounders on Oct. 2 and defending champion Portland Timbers, seating capacity will be increased to 25,000.
Also, team COO Rachel Lewis said during a media round table that the Whitecaps have signed 10 new corporate partners, including Red Bull -- which has never sponsored a team before -- and BCAA, the province's automobile association. And, Whitecaps games will now be broadcast on TSN 1040, which draws a larger audience than previous station host TSN 1410.
The club has also opened up a new hospitality section for an exclusive 25-member club and in the past year donated $1 million to B.C. Children's Hospital.
On the playing side, the Caps have likely gained more offence by acquiring strikers Masato Kudo, who formerly played in Japan's J-League and Blas Perez, who previously played for FC Dallas, and Costa Rican midfielder Christian Bolanos, a participant in two FIFA World Cups.
"We've added up front, where we were short (goals) last year," said club president Bobby Lenarduzzi, whose team was blanked in a first-round playoff series loss to Portland in 2015 and struggled to score consistently in the regular season.
Young Canadian defenders Sam Adekugbe and Fraser Aird should help shore up a strong back line. Adekugbe is entering his second season with the Caps while Aird begins his first. Both have a chance to see extensive action at left and right back, respectively. Another Canadian, Kianz Froese, has the potential to provide an offensive spark in midfield as coach Carl Robinson seeks more goals from the engine room.
As a result of the improvements, the Whitecaps are viewed as serious, if not strong, MLS Cup contenders. Time will tell whether they can live up to expectations, but Lenarduzzi is feeling quite optimistic, even though he knows all teams do at this time of year.
"Going into the season, it feels like this is the deepest roster we've had," he said.