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2d ago

Las Vegas Group Makes Formal Bid to Buy and Relocate Vancouver Whitecaps

The dispute turns on BC Place’s provincial control, which limits team revenue under a lease set to end after the 2026 season.

Apr 22, 2026; Morristown, New Jersey, USA; Commissioner of Major League Soccer, Don Garber, speaks onstage during an event for the opening of the RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center. The complex has been selected as Brazil's training home for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Fans of the Vancouver Whitecaps MLS soccer team rally to keep the team in Vancouver, outside the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver on Thursday, April 30, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Vancouver Whitecaps FC are one of the best clubs in Major League Soccer, losing in the title game last season.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber was in Vancouver this week, and met with Mayor Ken Sim and Premier David Eby.

Overview

  • The investor group led by Grant Gustavson submitted the offer Thursday, proposing a privately financed purchase and a new soccer stadium in Las Vegas.
  • MLS said it will review the bid and other options with a stated preference to keep the club in Vancouver as the BC Place lease ends after the 2026 season.
  • Whitecaps owners said talks with more than 100 parties over 16 months have not produced a viable local buyer to keep the team in the city.
  • The sticking point is BC Place, a provincially owned venue that limits the club’s take from premium seats, concessions, advertising and available dates.
  • Provincial officials said they have offered cost breaks but will not buy the team, while fans staged Save The Caps protests and Don Garber said a taunting post from his X account came from a hack.