The Vancouver Whitecaps should be in the news for their on-field success.
Yet, here we are, with Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim pleading for a resolution to the Whitecaps’ relocation rumours.
While the Vancouver mayor has been preoccupied publicly with his role in trying to bring prospective owners of an MLB team to Vancouver, perhaps it was hard to stay silent after Monday.
A weekend filled with Whitecaps fans banding together, showing support for the team, was met with an alarming statement from the team on Monday.
“It remains the strong preference of this ownership group to find a solution in Vancouver,” the Whitecaps said in a press release. “If there is a local ownership group with the vision and resources to chart a path forward, we urge them to come forward.”
That prompted Mayor Sim to release a statement on Tuesday, urging the Whitecaps and the provincial government to reach an agreement.
“BC Place is owned and operated by the provincial government,” Sim said. “In fact, it’s the only stadium owned and operated by a government found anywhere in the MLS.
“In order for the team to stay in Vancouver, the Whitecaps and province must sign a bridge deal that will allow BC Place to become viable in the near term while a new stadium can be designed and built.”
The agreement between the Whitecaps and PavCo, which operates BC Place, expires at the end of the season. At the moment, no new solution has been found to keep the Whitecaps in Vancouver past the end of this season.
“That’s why today, we are calling on the team’s ownership to publicly and clearly articulate what they need to stay here in Vancouver, and we are calling on the provincial government to come to the table and make that a reality,” Sim said.
The mayor also alluded to the fact that they’ve done their part to find a solution for the Whitecaps, even if it hasn’t translated into something that could save the team.
“The City of Vancouver has done its part to create a path forward for the team’s future here by offering prime space at Hastings Park for the Whitecaps to construct a new stadium and entertainment district,” he said.
Back in December, Mayor Sim and Whitecaps CEO and sporting director Axel Schuster signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore building a new stadium and entertainment district at Hastings Park.
The main issue is that new owners would be needed to help facilitate that. And, as the Whitecaps said on Monday, a new ownership group has not yet been formed.
“Over the past 16 months, we have had serious conversations with more than 100 parties, and to date, no viable offer has emerged that would keep the club here.”
The Whitecaps have enjoyed massive crowds so far this season at BC Place, averaging 24,189 fans per game. On Saturday, 27,589 fans packed BC Place for a 3-1 Whitecaps win over the Colorado Rapids.
Vancouver has gone 7-1 during eight home matches at BC Place this season, outscoring opponents 21-4 in the process.
Hopefully, it’s not a swan song for the Whitecaps at BC Place.
“To all Vancouver Whitecaps fans, to the Southsiders, and to all of the supporter groups, we need you to keep the fight going,” Sim said. “We need you to stay strong, and we need you to stay loud.”
“Losing the Whitecaps is not an option.”