Key stakeholders set on keeping the Whitecaps in Vancouver issued a joint statement Thursday, saying they aren’t giving up on working to secure the team’s long-term future in the city.
In the statement, the group — which consists of club representatives, Major League Soccer (MLS), all three levels of government, PavCo, and the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil Waututh First Nations — says there have been some “positive developments” in the push to keep the team here, including opportunities for revenue generation and additional potential stadium sites.
“There is a clear consensus around the table: everyone is wearing the same jersey and working toward the same goal,” it said.
“With growing public support and increasing interest from potential investors, the Vancouver working group is confident these efforts will build further momentum and strengthen the path toward a successful long-term future for the Whitecaps in Vancouver.”
The ‘Caps have been up for sale since 2024, with ownership citing ongoing challenges tied to stadium control and revenue at the provincially owned BC Place Stadium. In April, an investor group led by Las Vegas businessman Grant Gustavson submitted a formal bid to MLS to buy the team and relocate the club.
Last month, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth Kahlon said a local group was planning to make a bid to buy the team, saying the government had been approached by an interested group. However, he didn’t say who was behind the bid and hasn’t elaborated further.
source & photo: CityNews
