The city of Vancouver and Major League Soccer's Whitecaps have agreed to pursue plans for a new stadium, which could help prevent a move out of the city if the team is sold.
Under a memorandum of understanding announced Thursday, the city and the team will exclusively negotiate the terms for development of a stadium and entertainment district in the Hastings Park area over the next year.
The agreement comes as the Whitecaps' lease with BC Place expires at the end of this year and the team seeks a new lease with more favorable terms. The Whitecaps have also been up for sale for the past year, with no guarantee that a new buyer would keep the team in Vancouver.
Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said the MOU was a first step in making sure the team stays. Other details, including the cost of the stadium and who would pay for it, were not part of the agreement.
“When we announced one year ago that this club is up for sale, I told everyone, this is not an end, this is a beginning. A beginning of something new, that we want to develop something new,” Schuster said. “We want to build the future of the club in Vancouver.”
Ahead of the Whitecaps' loss to Inter Miami in the MLS title match earlier this month, MLS Commissioner Don Garber was critical over a lack of progress in both plans for a new stadium and securing a favorable lease. He suggested “tough decisions” might be made if there wasn't movement.
“The MLS team, its owners, its fans, its players have done everything to earn the support that they’re not getting today from the city and from the province and that’s an untenable situation,” Garber said. “What we have there has to change. And right now, we’re not necessarily on a path to do that. ... We had a very positive meeting with the mayor. We’re looking at getting a better lease at BC Place right now. There’s been no movement on that and it’s been a month.”
Vancouver’s owners — Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luzco, Jeff Mallett and former NBA star Steve Nash — announced last December that the club was for sale. Mallett suggested this past summer that the group’s strategy may include adding a new partner.
Mayor Ken Sim was blunt about the prospects of the team's future in the city without a new stadium.
“Let’s just call it what it is, there’s probably absolutely no path for the Vancouver Whitecaps to remain in Vancouver without this MOU,” Sim said.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
Only subscribers can view and post comments on articles.
Already a subscriber? Login Here
“A dazzling delight for all ages” Read moreRodger's & Hammerstein's Cinderella
Celebrate the season with us at CY Danceworks’ Christmas Open House on Sunday, December 7th! Read moreChristmas Open House-Free Dance Classes, Holiday Crafts, Food, Pics with Santa & More!!!
Interact with live nativity characters; pet various animals; sing along with Christmas carol… Read moreChristmas Under the Stars
Thomas Morgan said:
Dirk van Ulden said:
Dirk van Ulden said:
I understand that brothels and casinos are also major tax resources. Why not have a few of those in our neighborhoods.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.