The Victoria Highlanders FC menB次元官网网址檚 team will divide its season between Bear Mountain stadium and Royal Athletic Park as the relationship between the franchise and Langford grows increasingly strained.

The Highlanders announced Thursday the PDL menB次元官网网址檚 squad would play their May and June matches in Langford and July games at RAP in Victoria. General manager Drew Finerty cited scheduling conflicts at Bear Mountain between the Highlanders and the Victoria Rebels football team.

Between the menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 first team squads and respective U-20 reserve teams, as well as the Rebels starting its season in July, Finerty said there is simply not enough field time at Bear Mountain.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e grown so much in the last year,B次元官网网址� Finerty said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really become a capacity issue B次元官网网址� thereB次元官网网址檚  dressing rooms, field space, seating, training all stacked on top of one another. You get to a point where you donB次元官网网址檛 know if you can make it work or not.B次元官网网址�

The womenB次元官网网址檚 team, which is playing in the United Soccer Leagues W-League this season, the Highlanders academy program and the reserve squads will remain based out of Bear Mountain.

Finerty couldnB次元官网网址檛 say if this third season is the final season for the menB次元官网网址檚 first team in Langford B次元官网网址� the organization needs to gauge the new revenue stream and response from soccer fans at RAP.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 too early to say right now. We need to see the support from fans at both facilities,B次元官网网址� Finerty said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l be having talks with all our stakeholders in the next six months.B次元官网网址� The deadline on permanently changing homes will come in August.

Over the past year, Highlanders management has been pushing Langford to purchase and install more permanent seating at Bear Mountain stadium, a request the City has patently refused.

The menB次元官网网址檚 team is itching to move into a professional division within the USL, but needs a home base with at least 2,500 permanent seats. Bear Mountain has about 1,100 grandstand seats and hundreds of temporary seats B次元官网网址� RAP, on the other hand, has more than 4,000 permanent seats and has the ability for thousands more.

B次元官网网址淲e could see 5,000 people (at RAP). ThatB次元官网网址檚 something we couldnB次元官网网址檛 even dream in our current situation,B次元官网网址� Finerty said. In Langford, the Highlanders drew about 1,600 spectators per game, but the organization says it's fans want more midfield seating.

Langford maintains the number of seats at its three-year-old stadium is more than enough for the user groups renting time on the artificial turf. Mayor Stew Young estimates that installing grandstands on the north side of the field would cost $500,000.

The City offered to help the Highlanders find used portable seating, but wasnB次元官网网址檛 interested in footing the bill. Young said itB次元官网网址檚 disappointing that the Highlanders are shifting marquee matches to Victoria, and didnB次元官网网址檛 bother to tell Langford.

B次元官网网址淲e like the entertainment here, no question. But we canB次元官网网址檛 afford spend $500,000 on new seats for 10 games,B次元官网网址� Young said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not putting taxpayers on the hook for that. For us itB次元官网网址檚 taking a risk. Sports teams are here one day, gone tomorrow.B次元官网网址�

Young also noted that spending money on grandstands wouldnB次元官网网址檛 pay for itself. Income from the field rental wouldnB次元官网网址檛 change B次元官网网址� at $95 per hour B次元官网网址� and the City receives a small portion of the concession receipts. New grandstands would have meant increasing municipal taxes.

B次元官网网址淲e hope to see the Highlanders around for a long time and I wish them the best of luck. But from a municipal point of view, we canB次元官网网址檛 justify spending the money,B次元官网网址� Young said. B次元官网网址淚 love the sport, but it was a simple decision for us.B次元官网网址�

Finerty said as a tenant of Bear Mountain, the organization couldnB次元官网网址檛 justify purchasing seating. He also noted that the operator of the stadium is looking to sell its own advertising, which could potentially conflict with Highlanders sponsorship deals.

B次元官网网址淲e got the notice in March that there would be no extra seats coming. ItB次元官网网址檚 part of the problem, but not the only problem,B次元官网网址� Finerty said. B次元官网网址淚f they go and sell advertising, that could put us in conflict ... that could affect our relationships with our long-term partners. ThatB次元官网网址檚 not something we want to participate in.B次元官网网址�

editor@goldstreamgazette.com

Soccer season openers in Langford:

The Victoria Highlanders womenB次元官网网址檚 team first home game of the season is May 14, 7p.m. at Bear Mountain Stadium against the Seattle Sounders.

The Victoria Highlanders menB次元官网网址檚 team first home game of the season is May 21, 7 p.m., at Bear Mountain Stadium against Vancouver Whitecaps Residency.

See www.victoriahighlandersfc.com.