B.C. Jobs and Economic Growth Minister Ravi Kahlon says if the Vancouver Whitecaps ownership group has already made a decision to sell, then transparency would be better for the fans and the province.
“I’m hoping that that meeting and that dialogue from that meeting was genuine,” Kahlon told reporters in Victoria on Thursday (April 30), referring to a meeting between the provincial government and Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber the previous day.
“If they have already made a decision to move the team, I’d rather they just tell and not have everybody go through the the anxiety of trying to figure out what we can do.”
Multiple media outlets are reporting that the MLS has received a formal bid from Las Vegas businessman Grant Gustavson to relocate the Whitecaps to Vegas.
Kahlon said there are “a lot of questions” about why when a team is finally good that they’ve been put up for sale.
“As a fan, I’ll tell you that we have stood in the stands for many years chanting and supporting this team when they weren’t playing well,” Kahlon said.
“I share the frustration of the sports fans and the Whitecaps fans to finally see this team reach a peak only to be offered for sale.”
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.
Kahlon said he understands the thought behind the sale, but it “doesn’t do anything for the thousands of people who, quite frankly, committed blood, sweat and tears to this team.”
The Vancouver Whitecaps has had a dedicated fanbase for decades.
Kahlon said he thinks the fans have done a really good job of making sure the head of the MLS understands that keeping the Whitecaps in Vancouver is important.
“They’ve done this before in Columbus and other communities where the fans spoke up and made the case that the team was so important that the MLs stepped in and they said we’re going to make sure the team is protected here,” he said.
“I think they have that responsibility to the fans here as well.”
Kahlon has remained firm that the provincial government will not be buying the team.
“We do not want to be owning a professional sports team. We have a lot of things we’re focused on on healthcare, education, supporting vulnerable people, mental health. Those are the things that government should be putting their focus to.”
Black Press Media has reached out to MLS.
READ MORE: ‘We want to see the Whitecaps stay’ says B.C. jobs minister amid relocation report