British Columbia's premier-designate Lorne Doerkson said last week he does not know the future plans for the Vancouver Whitecaps, though he hopes the Major League Soccer club remains in the province. "I love the Whitecaps, and there's a great amount of support for them here," Doerkson told reporters, according to The Canadian Press. "But I'll be straight up with you. I don't know the plan going forward."
The Whitecaps were listed for sale in December 2024, largely due to their stadium situation at government-owned BC Place. Las Vegas entrepreneur Grant Gustavson, son of Public Storage's largest shareholder Tamara Hughes Gustavson, submitted a bid to MLS in April to purchase and move the team to Southern Nevada. Representatives for Gustavson's group and Whitecaps majority owner Greg Kerfoot did not respond to requests for comment.
MLS spokesman Dan Courtemanche said the league is committed to the Whitecaps playing in Vancouver through at least the 2027 spring season, a shortened campaign running February through May before the league shifts to a summer-to-spring calendar. Beyond that, the club's location remains unclear. Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster emphasized the team is staying for the upcoming spring season. "People should know we're here, we're staying in the spring season," Schuster said, according to The Canadian Press. "So the club is not going yet, and nothing is happening yet."
The Whitecaps currently lead the MLS Western Conference with an 18-7-8 record and 61 points, setting franchise records for home victories and points earned at home this season. The MLS playoffs begin Nov. 19 with the wild-card round.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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