MLS Commissioner Threatens Drastic Action Over Vancouver's Stadium Crisis
FORT LAUDERDALE – The Vancouver Whitecaps anticipate drawing over 20,000 supporters to their MLS Cup viewing event on Saturday at BC Place, yet uncertainty looms regarding where the franchise will call home starting in 2026 and moving forward.
During his State of the League presentation on Thursday before the 2025 MLS Cup match between the Whitecaps and Inter Miami, MLS Commissioner Don Garber acknowledged the possibility of having "to make some difficult choices," which could include franchise relocation.
The Whitecaps' venue agreement with the publicly-owned BC Place concludes at the end of 2025, and discussions for a 2026 extension have shown minimal advancement.
Garber has been explicit: The franchise cannot remain at BC Place indefinitely; it requires a dedicated soccer facility, and any future agreement must provide better terms for the Whitecaps, who have historically struggled to generate substantial revenue.
"The current situation must be altered. And presently, we're not necessarily moving toward that goal. ... We conducted a very constructive meeting with the mayor. We're seeking an improved agreement at BC Place currently. There's been no progress on that front, and it's been a month," Garber stated.
"We are committed to serving those individuals who genuinely desire an MLS franchise they can cherish and support. And that extends beyond supporters. They've accomplished that... You need municipalities and provinces to demonstrate that commitment, and we're still awaiting to see if they can deliver. And if they cannot, we'll be forced to make some difficult choices."
Garber Amplifies Earlier Position
Garber's remarks on Thursday followed his visit to Vancouver and key stakeholders the previous month.
"There exists a possibility that's not the direction we wish to pursue. It's part of why I'm present," he commented at that time. "This simply demands a different perspective and a new approach to considering what a future pathway might look like."
On December 13, 2024, the Whitecaps' existing ownership consortium, including Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett, and Steve Nash, publicly announced their intention to divest the club. Earlier in the year, prospective plans for a soccer-dedicated stadium were also presented.
Since initially putting the club on the market, the Whitecaps have emerged from their average performance and become only the second franchise in the contemporary period to reach the Concacaf Champions Cup final, domestic cup final, and MLS Cup within the same campaign. They also secured the team's first marquee acquisition in German icon Thomas Müller.
The competitive achievements and relocation concerns converge at a pivotal moment, with Vancouver serving as a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city.
Nevertheless, there exists a real possibility that lifting the MLS Cup could mark the franchise's final chapter, despite being North America's longest-operating professional club, established in 1974.
Six Cities Consider MLS Prospect
While Garber and current ownership aim to maintain the Whitecaps in Vancouver, a traditional soccer stronghold, other prospective cities are monitoring the club for potential relocation opportunities.
The Athletic indicated that six organizations have tracked the Whitecaps situation, including representatives from Detroit, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Sacramento, Indianapolis and Edmonton.
All interested municipalities have previously hosted professional franchises, and according to reports, delegates from two of these cities were present at the Western Conference semifinal against LAFC, which drew 53,397 spectators, marking the third-largest attendance in the club's 51-year existence.
"The MLS franchise, its ownership, its supporters, its athletes have accomplished everything to merit the backing they're currently not receiving from the municipality and the province," Garber continued Thursday.
"What additional steps can be taken? Reach the championship match and essentially demonstrate to the entire nation that MLS represents a significant and worthwhile component of its athletic environment. We've been constructing soccer venues; we'll soon possess 30 of them. We remain tenants at BC Place."