Amid growing fears of relocation, Vancouver’s business community is mounting a coordinated campaign to keep Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the city, with hundreds of companies and organizations already signing an open letter urging support for the Major League Soccer (MLS) club.
The initiative, led by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, calls on businesses to explore sponsorships, partnerships, and ticket programs to help address what organizers describe as the club’s current revenue challenges.
The effort reflects growing concern over the potential economic and cultural impact of losing one of Vancouver’s longstanding professional sports franchises.
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“For more than 50 years, the Vancouver Whitecaps have been a pillar of our community, and the business community is sending a clear message: we want them to stay,” said Bridgitte Anderson, president and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, in a statement.
“The overwhelming response we’ve seen in just a few days shows that the private sector is ready to be a constructive partner and discuss how we can step up to ensure, we are protecting a vital economic engine that fuels our downtown core.”
Business leaders involved in the campaign argue that Whitecaps matches generate significant activity for retailers, restaurants, bars, hotels, entertainment establishments, and other service-based businesses in and around Downtown Vancouver. They point to the economic impact of having hundreds of thousands of fans attend home games each season, contributing tens of millions of dollars in economic activity in the city centre area surrounding BC Place Stadium.
In 2025, for the regular season’s 17 matches played at home, the Whitecaps had a cumulative total attendance of 370,707 or an average of 21,806 per match. Since joining the MLS, they have played at BC Place Stadium every season beginning in 2011.
“The Whitecaps bring hundreds of thousands of fans to the city each season and generate tens of millions of dollars in economic activity for downtown businesses,” said Jane Talbot, president and CEO of Downtown Van (the local business improvement association for Downtown Vancouver).
“For more than 50 years, the Whitecaps have been woven into the fabric of Vancouver and have played an important role in the downtown experience. Beyond their economic impact, they foster connection, civic pride, and shared experiences that contribute to the energy and vibrancy of our city. Losing them would be a significant loss for the entire community.”
Hospitality operators and tourism advocates also joined the push, warning that the loss of the club would ripple across the local economy.
“As a Vancouver-based hospitality group with multiple venues operating in and around the downtown core, matchdays for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC bring significant energy, foot traffic, and economic activity to our businesses,” said Aaron Lacey, Director of Operations at IRL Group.
“Home matches consistently drive increased sales, create additional shifts for our staff, and contribute to a vibrant atmosphere that benefits not only restaurants and pubs, but the broader hospitality and tourism sector across the city.”
Additional major supporters include the British Columbia Restaurant and Foodservices Association, the B.C. Hotel Association, and the Restaurants Canada, all of which highlighted the importance of sports-related tourism and event traffic to the province’s hospitality industry.
“The Whitecaps are woven into the culture and energy of Vancouver,” said Sarah Vallely, executive director of the Yaletown Business Improvement Association.
“On game days, the impact ripples far beyond the stadium filling restaurants, patios, hotels, and neighbourhoods like Yaletown with life.”
Downtown Vancouver businesses continue to struggle amid lower pedestrian traffic volumes compared to before the pandemic due to a combination of semi-remote office work taking hold and challenging economic conditions. As well, businesses in the city centre face growing operating costs.
The open letter campaign is positioning itself as a “made-in-Vancouver” effort aimed at keeping the club financially sustainable through deeper ties with the private sector. Organizers are seeking additional signatories from across British Columbia’s business community.
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