Local group plans bid to save Vancouver Whitecaps from relocation, government announces

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Tom Weber | Writer

Multilingual sports writer who specialises in European football and American soccer.

A British Columbia-based group has expressed a "serious" interest in acquiring the Vancouver Whitecaps, Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon has stated.

It has been a bleak few weeks for fans of the Whitecaps, with the threat of relocation looming ever larger. Last week, a group led by a Kentucky billionaire submitted a formal bid to Major League Soccer that, if accepted, would see the team move to Las Vegas.

However, there now appears to be a glimmer of hope that this 50-year-old club will be allowed to stay in Vancouver. Kahlon announced Wednesday evening that the Provincial Government had been approached by a local group that is putting together an offer.

"We just had a group that's reached out to us that has been organising, apparently for a few weeks, to put a bid in for the Whitecaps," Kahlon revealed to reporters in what he called "a positive development for Whitecaps fans and of course for the province."

The prospective bidders "seem serious" and are not asking for any help from the government. Kahlon, a Caps season-ticket holder, added that the group is currently doing "due diligence" on an offer that is "grounded in a plan to keep the team here."

Kahlon hopeful bid will be made public soon

When asked about a potential timeframe, Kahlon expressed a desire for a quick resolution due to the "anxiety" among Caps fans. "I would say sooner would be better, because there's a lot of anxiety amongst Whitecaps fans that they want to see a local proponent come forward.

"I can't speak to the proponents that are bidding for this process other than say that they seem very interested and they understand how important the club is for the province."

This news should be cause for some cautious optimism among Caps fans. However, any bidder keen to keep the team in the city will have to grapple with the stadium situation.

A new lease for BC Place beyond 2026 will have to be thrashed out with the Provincial Government company PavCo, and plans for a new stadium must be put in place. Currently, the Whitecaps are suffering from massive revenue shortfalls because of their stadium arrangement.

A Memorandum of Understanding exists with the City of Vancouver to acquire land for a new arena at the Hastings Racecourse. Hastings Park was previously the site of the temporary Empire Field, which the Whitecaps used while BC Place was undergoing renovations in 2011.

Funding for a potential stadium has been hard to come by, with the Caps claiming that more than 100 prospective buyers of the club had expressed an interest without ever formulating an actual takeover bid. The club has been for sale since December 2024.

The growing threat of relocation has spawned a #SaveTheCaps movement and widespread expressions of solidarity from other MLS fanbases. Former Caps goalkeeper David Ousted launched a petition in March, which has to date racked up more than 17,700 signatures.

Additionally, savethecaps.com was created by the club's various supporters' groups. Over 11,200 supporters have signed the wall on this website to show that the Caps belong in Vancouver.