Photo Credit: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via CTV News
On July 3, 2001, the Vancouver Grizzlies moved to Memphis. On June 15, 2011, the Canucks lost in the Stanley Cup finals. Last season, the Whitecaps lost in the finals of both the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup. Sports in Vancouver have had a history of heartbreaks, and one more might be added to the list in the near future.
There is big demand for an MLS team in Vancouver. In the last two years, BC Place took in about 1 million fans, averaging above twenty thousand fans per game. Furthermore, over 400 businesses signed a pledge to keep the Whitecaps in Vancouver. However, the Whitecaps do not have a home venue, and must pay Crown Corporation PavCo to lease BC Place for matches.
This has led to a chronic lack of revenue for the Whitecaps, despite the team having enough fans to watch the matches. In late 2024, the Whitecaps were publicly put up for sale, one year before the team’s long-term lease at BC Place expired.
After an incredible 2024-2025 season where the Whitecaps finished second in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, they were dead last in terms of profit. This is mainly because the Whitecaps must pay a large share of the revenue generated by their matches to make their lease financially stable, according to Sportsnet. The MLS commissioner stated that “BC Place is not viable for the Whitecaps.”
The main problem with BC Place is that the club receives less than 20 per cent of revenue from concessions and even less from gate revenue, but having their own stadium could help fix these issues.
The Whitecaps have made multiple complaints, claiming that they do not have enough control over their home schedule, given that BC Place has held a lot of events recently, according to CTV News. These events include World Cup matches, large concerts, BC Lions games, and other major sporting events. Due to the stadium's high demand, it’s less convenient for the Whitecaps to play matches on home turf.
Most teams in the MLS have assets, such as training grounds and a stadium, and the absence of such capital for the Whitecaps could dissuade potential buyers.
According to Sportsnet, the Whitecaps will continue to play in Vancouver for at least one more year. In September, they signed a new lease with PavCo, which not only extends their usage of the stadium for one year, but also gives them an extra $1.5 million in matchday revenue. Additionally, Sports Business Journal says that PavCo is working on a project dubbed “net zero,” where any profits are given to the Whitecaps.
This deal ends at the end of 2026, and if a new deal has not been reached by then, the team could move. Currently, a group of investors, led by Grant Gustavson, have offered to purchase the club and relocate the team to Las Vegas, as reported by CBC News.
This would make the Whitecaps the next major sporting team to be relocated to Las Vegas. In 2017, the Las Vegas Golden Knights played their first National Hockey League game in Las Vegas. The National Football League moved a team from Oakland, California to Las Vegas in 2020. A Major League Baseball team, the Oakland Athletics, will be moving to Las Vegas for the 2028-2029 season. And towards the end of 2026, the National Basketball Association is expected to announce an expansion team in Las Vegas. If MLS approves this proposed purchase, it will mean that in the last decade, Las Vegas will have acquired teams in all five major men’s league sports leagues in the US.
However, the Whitecaps are exploring building a new stadium at Hastings Park, according to Global News. The club and the City of Vancouver have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the development of the stadium and entertainment district at Hastings Park. Hastings Park is already home to various sports facilities, including the former Empire Field Stadium.
Another solution would be for MLS to attract a buyer to purchase the Whitecaps and keep them in Vancouver.
On the pitch, however, the Whitecaps are doing very well. In the last two years, they've been dominant. They’ve signed German legend Thomas Müller, hosted record crowds, and brought the city alive with positive results. There’s a genuine excitement at BC Place right now, with fans expecting a good game every time they come.
Last season, the Whitecaps won the Western Conference and Canadian Championship, while coming runner-up in both the CONCACAF Champions Cup and MLS Cup.
The Coast Reporter has noted that to help buoy the spirits of fans, the Vancouver Southsiders and other supporters started the Save the Caps campaign. The campaign uses ads, petitions, posters, stickers, and other ways to spread awareness.
The campaign also includes rallies, as seen on Apr. 25, when the Southsiders marched around BC Place. Aside from spreading awareness, the campaign also unites fans in their common support.
But at the moment, these dedicated fans are getting an uncertain, mixed message of their situation. According to Sports Business Journal, there have been over 100 purchase offers from external groups, with 30 groups going as far as the data room and obtaining access to the club’s finances. During a press conference, Sports Business Journal noted that Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster said that “no viable offers followed” and that, “Nothing has developed to the negative, but it’s also not yet a positive.”
Among these groups is one led by former Canucks and Grizzlies owner Arthur Griffiths, who submitted a formal offer on July 31. Griffiths aims to keep the Whitecaps in Vancouver, unlike other possible buyers such as Grant Gustavson.
Another development that has surfaced is the involvement of local First Nations. According to The Province, the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations have joined together in an effort to keep the Whitecaps in Vancouver. This may prove valuable in the future, as they can utilize their traditional land as possible sites for a new stadium, if BC Place negotiations are unsuccessful.
Aditionally, in July 2026, the Whitecaps submitted an unofficial proposal to the government of BC, attempting to take over operational control of BC Place, according to Sportsnet. This would mean the Whitecaps would own and operate BC Place, and would significantly increase matchday revenue.
Next season, however, the Whitecaps will be playing in Vancouver, says Sportsnet. A short term lease with PavCo was signed on Sept. 29, securing the venue for them until May 2027. The next season runs from February through to May, with a condensed, 14 regular season game schedule and single elimination playoffs as MLS shifts to a European calendar. Axel Schuster says of the extension that ‘’it should only be a tool’’ and "we all have to continue to work on how a longer-term agreement should and could look like that is improving our situation." This statement aligns with what Sports Business Journal reported, noting some quick fixes in revenue to reduce deficits in the long run. For example, ticket prices have increased for some fans, especially those in newly classified luxury seats. Following a $200 million upgrade to seating areas during the World Cup, new luxury areas such as Creekside Terrace were constructed, where fans can view the picturesque sights of False Creek as well as watch the match.
Furthermore, the Whitecaps have a lack of local buyers to maintain the club's stay in Vancouver. The Whitecaps CEO says that the sales aren't close to reality at all. He also says that the Whitecaps have been up for sale since 2024, and the current ownership group, including Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo, Steve Nash and Jeff Mallet, has said many times that their goal is to keep the team in Vancouver.