A B.C. cabinet minister and the mayor of Vancouver are asking the Whitecaps what it would take to keep the team in the city, following reports of a possible relocation.
The Athletic broke the story Monday (April 27) that MLS owners were in talks for a potential Whitecaps relocation, with Las Vegas as the top contender.
A statement from the club Monday, following the news stories, said the Whitecaps have “faced well-documented structural challenges around stadium economics, venue access, and revenue limitations that have made it difficult to attract buyers committed to keeping the team in Vancouver.
“Over the past 16 months, we have had serious conversations with more than 100 parties, and to date, no viable offer has emerged that would keep the club here.”
The statement added that it “remains the strong preference” of the ownership group to find a solution in Vancouver.
“If there is a local ownership group with the vision and resources to chart a path forward, we urge them to come forward.”
The ownership group, which consists of Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett and Steve Nash, announced on Dec. 13, 2024 that it was starting the process to sell the club.
Kerfoot acquired the team in 2002 when the club was “deeply in debt and had no clear future.” The current ownership formed in 2008 and the team played its first MLS game in March 2011.
Speaking to reporters in the B.C. legislature Tuesday, Jobs and Economic Growth Minister Ravi Kahlon said the provincial government is exploring “additional ways” for the team to increase its revenues.
“What I would say to them is if there are some genuine things that they need done to keep the team here, we want to see that happen. We want to see the Whitecaps stay in this community. We fought with the fans to support the team when they were struggling and we want to see the benefits of them when they’re doing well.”
Kahlon said he understands that ownership bought the team for about $30 million and it’s now valued much higher than that.
“The owners want to cash out. They’ve made it clear that they want to sell the team and they want to maximize the profit,” he said. “They brought in (Thomas) Müller, the team is at their peak and they can get peak dollars for that.”
San Diego is the league’s most recent expansion team, which started playing in the 2025 season. The ownership team paid an expansion fee of $500 million, according to multiple media reports.
Kahlon said the provincial government has heard from Whitecaps management that the cost to operate at BC Place was “higher than some others” in the league. He said he suspects with the $3-million reduction in the club’s cost that they received in the last deal, “we will be in a much better place compared to many states across North America.”
He said the provincial government has met with Whitecaps over the last year, “dramatically” reducing their costs at the stadium. Kahlon said they identified opportunities for better concession sales and advertising.
“In fact, the stadium, now, is at no cost to them. And we’re exploring additional ways for them to increase their revenues,” he said, adding that “anything that they got this year would definitely be on the table for a future year as well.”
Kahlon said he’s heard from fans that the B.C. government should just give BC Place to the Whitecaps.
“The management has not asked for that. We’ve opened up our books. They see the numbers, they see that we’re breaking even with the agreement that we have with them and no time have they come forward and said, ‘Here’s our proposal for that.’”
The team signed a one-year lease with BC Place earlier in the year.
BC Place is a provincial Crown corporation owned and operated by B.C. Pavilion Corporation, also known as PavCo. It’s the only stadium in the league owned and operated by a government corporation.
However, the Whitecaps signed a memorandum of understanding with the City of Vancouver in December 2025 for a new stadium project at Hastings Racecourse Park. The parties are expected to work together through to Dec. 31, 2026 to negotiate terms for a ground lease, including the stadium’s design, financial terms and community benefits for the proposed development.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim issued a long statement Tuesday regarding the possibility of a Whitecaps relocation. He said the city has done its part to create a path forward for the team’s future by offering “prime space” at Hastings Park for the club to construct a new stadium and entertainment district.
Sim said he was calling on the team’s ownership to “publicly and clearly articulate what they need to stay here in Vancouver.” He added the provincial government needs to “come to the table and make that a reality.”
Asked what the provincial government would be willing to do, Kahlon drew the line at buying the team.
“Well, we won’t be buying the team. And so if they’re asking us to buy the team for $500 million or whatever the value is, that is not something we want to be doing,” he said.
“Owning a team is not something that I believe the province should be doing. But we are willing to work with them along the along the way.”