National Soccer Development Centre

National Soccer Development Centre

The National Soccer Development Centre (NSDC) at UBC was built in partnership with the University, the Whitecaps and the provincial government and includes a state-of-the-art fieldhouse, two natural turf fields and one artificial turf field. The facility is home to the Whitecaps FC senior team and its academy teams (ages U-15 to U-23) and employs approximately 200 players and staff. The fieldhouse features facilities such as a weight room, hydrotherapy, dining hall, media lobby and management offices and is LEED Gold certified. The complex is located in the heart of the Thunderbird Park sports complex, which hosts sports such as soccer, rugby, hockey, baseball, track and field, ultimate and field soccer.

Programs & Activities

1. Residency & Academy: The NSDC is home to major teams, including the First Team, Academy teams at the U-23, U-19, U-17 and U-15 age groups.

2. Support for development teams and official leagues: The facility serves as a training base for professional teams such as WFC2 (formerly USL PRO), Academy teams and UBC University teams.

3. Host semi-professional leagues:

• Men’s Academy: Plays in British Columbia’s League 1.
• Girls Elite Academy: Plays in the same league and plays its home games at Ken Woods Field at NSDC.

4. Overall Weekly and Developmental Programs: The Whitecaps’ overall club structure includes programs from the community level (clinics, tournaments, camps from U-6 to U-18) through to the first team.

Key Features & Amenities

• Number of Fields: The complex consists of seven fields: five on the UBC campus (three natural grass and two artificial turf) and two artificial turf fields at Simon Fraser University.
• State-of-the-art Fieldhouse: A three-story building measuring approximately 38,000 square feet (35,000–38,000 square meters), the facility features:
• A two-story weight room with a mirrored wall and glass windows for a beautiful view
• Players’ lounge
• A dedicated kitchen and dining hall with personalized meal plans
• Hydrotherapy-equipped sports science wing
• Separate media area, including entrance and media workstation
• Separate locker rooms: for the main team on one side of the building and the WFC2 and Residency teams on the other with separate access
• Building standard: The Fieldhouse is working toward LEED Gold certification, with a focus on sustainability, low water use, energy efficiency, and indoor environmental quality.

Book Now

1. Select a booking type

• For regular programs: Use the Seasonal Booking Request form.
• For special events: Use the Event Booking Request form.

2. Contact the relevant team

• To obtain a form and begin your booking, you can contact the UBC Athletic & Recreation team directly:
• Customer Service and Reservations Manager (Fields & Baseball):
• Name: Makaela Smithers
• Email: thunderbird.park[at]ubc[dot]ca
• Phone: 604-822-3890

3. Submit a request

• Complete the relevant form (seasonal or event) and submit it with details such as dates, type of use, number of participants and special requirements.

4. Review fees and approvals

• Once the request is received, the relevant team will review it and advise you of fees, access and conditions.

Location & Accessibility & Contact

• Exact address: 3065 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada
• Access: The main entrance to UBC is from Wesbrook Mall, and this street is usually served by city buses. SkyTrain is a common way to get to Broadway–City Hall or Commercial–Broadway stations, and from there buses are usually available to the campus.
• Email: thunderbird.park[at]ubc[dot]ca
• Phone: 604-822-3890

FAQs

How many soccer fields are there at NSDC?

The facility has 5 fields at UBC (3 natural grass and 2 artificial) and 2 artificial fields at SFU.

Are the fields available for reservation or public use?

Reservations for fields and facilities are made through Thunderbird Park at UBC, using a seasonal or event reservation request form and coordinating with the appropriate person.