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Groups working to keep the Vancouver Whitecaps from leaving town say that “additional potential stadium sites” were discussed earlier this week.
The update is contained in a joint statement from the City of Vancouver, Province of British Columbia, Government of Canada, the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish First Nations, along with PavCo, the provincial Crown corporation that operates B.C. Place.
The MLS club has been up for sale since December 2024. In April, a group backed by an American billionaire expressed interest in buying the club and moving it to Las Vegas.
CBC News reached out to the Whitecaps and City of Vancouver for information about potential new stadium locations, but neither was available.
The club and city previously said they were looking at Hastings Park in East Vancouver as a possible location for a soccer-specific stadium and development.
Two decades ago, Whitecaps majority owner Greg Kerfoot’s vision to build a privately-owned, waterfront stadium over a railyard near Gastown never came to fruition.
More recently, speculation emerged around a False Creek location for a new stadium related to Mayor Ken Sim’s motion to bring Major League Baseball to Vancouver.
The talks earlier this week were held in secret and included the Whitecaps and Major League Soccer.
The Government of Canada’s involvement is through former Vancouver mayor and current federal Housing Minister Gregor Robertson, who posted on social media that they’re “working together to secure the Whitecaps’ future in Vancouver.”
The joint statement said “several positive developments” were reviewed at the meeting, including ways for the Whitecaps to generate more revenue and an “updated data room designed to support engagement with prospective ownership groups.”
A data room is a digital prospectus containing confidential information about the club’s business operations.
In a statement issued Thursday, the Whitecaps reiterated that a “Vancouver solution” is their primary goal.
“We remain committed to working with all stakeholders to strengthen the opportunity to attract a credible local ownership group, grow the game at all levels, and secure the club’s long-term future in Vancouver.”
Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster said in February that the team is facing a $40-million revenue shortfall compared to other MLS franchises.
Concessions granted to the Whitecaps on this year’s lease deal with B.C. Place could return upward of $2 million to the club, according to B.C. Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon.
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