MLS Commissioner Delivers Verdict on Cup Contender's Bold Stadium Move
The Vancouver Whitecaps are expecting over 54,000 supporters for their MLS Cup playoff clash with LAFC on November 22, yet their long-term future at BC Place Stadium and within the city remains uncertain.
In December 2024, the organization announced its search for new ownership while confirming its commitment to staying in the Western Canadian region.
Following the acquisition of German icon Thomas Müller and securing second place in the Western Conference in 2025, ownership modified their strategy, now looking for an additional investor. However, unlike most MLS franchises, the Whitecaps don't own their venue; they lease BC Place, a publicly-owned facility, and receive minimal revenue from game days.
"There exists a chance [of moving] and that's not the direction we want to pursue," stated MLS Commissioner Don Garber during a media gathering in Vancouver this week. "These limitations and obstacles make it unsustainable for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Financially, they don't share in any revenue.
"I'm here with a goal to explore ways we can build upon all the achievements of this organization... to transition from being competitive on the pitch and maintaining community ties while ranking at the bottom of our 30 teams in revenue, despite being in the top 25-50% for attendance."
A New Stadium Likely Needed
Garber has emphasized his desire to keep the Whitecaps in Vancouver, but dismissed the possibility of the team staying at BC Place in its present arrangement long-term.
The Whitecaps' agreement at BC Place concludes at the end of 2025, with no contract secured for the 2026 season and beyond, something Garber accepted responsibility for, calling it "reckless, on my part."
Additionally, the MLS calendar must accommodate itself to the Whitecaps and BC Place's scheduling constraints. In 2024, the Whitecaps were forced to play a "home" playoff game in Portland against the Portland Timbers due to conflicts at BC Place.
The ultimate objective is a soccer-dedicated stadium owned by the franchise, something the Whitecaps have previously investigated. Earlier this year, the team showed interest in constructing a stadium at the Pacific National Exhibition, a location outside downtown near where the Whitecaps began their MLS journey in 2011 at a temporary facility.
"Can you envision having a situation where you're providing dates and our entire league has to coordinate around one team's available schedule? The scheduling issue alone is unsustainable," Garber stated.
"That's not what we're attempting to create in Major League Soccer. We believe that [the PNE stadium proposal] could be very compelling for what we're trying to accomplish."
BC Place Likely for Short Term
The Whitecaps and MLS are pursuing an improved short-term stadium agreement at BC Place. Garber even encouraged the provincial government to transfer BC Place operations to the Whitecaps and MLS so they can capitalize on marketing opportunities, including naming rights for the venue.
"We have a less-than-ideal stadium arrangement, and we're working to resolve that. And there's a short-term solution that's very clear: We want an improved lease at BC Place, and the team has submitted a very detailed proposal about that," Garber informed reporters.
"This simply requires a fresh perspective and a new approach to considering what a forward path could look like. I view that with optimism."
Unlike some recent MLS teams, the Whitecaps weren't required to have a soccer-specific stadium when joining the league in 2011. In contrast, it has since become nearly mandatory for Inter Miami, Austin FC, FC Cincinnati, San Diego FC and other expansion franchises.
While no timeline exists for a potential new stadium, MLS and the Whitecaps will continue searching for a new venue, even if it means returning to the suboptimal BC Place for 2026, as the stadium also prepares to accommodate seven matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
"The ideal situation," said Garber, "is an excellent lease with a strong partnership at BC Place and a concurrent path with some guiding vision (toward a soccer-specific stadium)."