13 possible Major League Baseball stadium sites in Vancouver — rated by feasibility

Just over five years ago, the City of Burnaby launched a bidding process to find a developer for a major new film and television production studio on a 17-acre vacant, City-owned site. The initiative was part of a broader strategy to support economic development and attract investment.

The process was initially prompted by an unsolicited proposal from a developer interested in building such a facility. Because the project involved the sale or lease of municipal land, the City proceeded with an open bidding process, which ultimately led to the selection of a different proponent months later. However, the project eventually fell through due to a combination of softening demand for studio production space in Metro Vancouver and challenging, swamp-like ground conditions at the proposed site in the Big Bend area.

There are some possible parallels between that earlier Burnaby studio project and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim’s announced plan this month for the City of Vancouver to initiate a bidding process to attract a Major League Baseball (MLB) expansion franchise.

Last week, when asked by Daily Hive Urbanized, Sim said that there is interest from “very credible parties” to pursue an MLB expansion franchise for Vancouver. This suggests this is not coming out of nowhere, and that there are deep pockets backing an effort behind the scenes.

The mayor asserted that the City-led process is intended to provide Vancouver with the best pitch to MLB during the current narrow window of opportunity, with league leadership indicating that they intend to add two franchises before the end of this decade. The last time the league expanded was in the early 1990s, and such an opportunity may not reopen for decades.

You might also like:
• Vancouver mayor explains the need for a City-led bid process to pursue an Major League Baseball expansion team
• Mayor Ken Sim calls for bidding process for Major League Baseball expansion franchise in Vancouver
• Is Ken Sim's MLB pitch a bunt or a home run? Vancouver reacts
• How Vancouver's population compares to current MLB cities
• A Whitecaps soccer stadium with an entertainment district — and maybe SkyTrain? What’s next for Vancouver's Hastings Park and the PNE
• 72% of Metro Vancouver residents support the idea of Major League Baseball expansion team: survey

Sim’s member motion directing City of Vancouver staff to initiate the process is expected to be approved by Vancouver City Council this week.

Notably, the announcement did not directly address the issue of securing a modern MLB stadium — likely leaving it up to prospective bidders to propose solutions to what is arguably the most complex and expensive component of the project. More details on this aspect could be made available in the forthcoming procurement process.

Land availability and cost present significant challenges, of course. Vancouver is geographically constrained, and many of its large, centrally located industrial sites — particularly those within and near the downtown Vancouver peninsula — have already been redeveloped into high-density residential neighbourhoods. This trend has been influenced in part by past municipal policies, such as protected mountain view cones, which limited vertical growth and instead encouraged horizontal expansion.

These real estate constraints have also affected the city’s existing professional sports teams, including the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks and MLS’s Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Canucks have long struggled to establish a dedicated practice facility. A previous partnership to integrate such a facility into the Plaza of Nations redevelopment collapsed, leaving the team as one of the few in the NHL without a dedicated practice rink — and the only one without a clear plan to secure one. In recent years, the team has explored multiple locations across the city and its outskirts. Recent reports suggest they may be focusing on a partnership with the City to add 20,000 sq. ft. to 25,000 sq. ft. of building floor area to the recently repaired Britannia ice rink, potentially including change rooms, offices, meeting spaces, and sports medicine facilities.

Meanwhile, Rogers Arena — home of the Canucks — is now over 30 years old, making it one of the oldest venues in the NHL. Behind the scenes, questions remain about its long-term future, including whether it will be significantly renovated or replaced entirely, especially given past decisions that added surrounding towers with rental housing and office uses on the property — effectively constraining the potential expansion of the existing venue’s concourse and amenities or even a complete redevelopment.

The Whitecaps face even more pressing challenges. Despite strong on-field performance in recent years, the team reports overwhelming financial losses, largely due to their tenancy at BC Place Stadium, which is owned and operated by the provincial government. This arrangement limits their ability to generate revenue, casting uncertainty over the team’s long-term future in Vancouver.

As a result, the Whitecaps have renewed efforts to build a purpose-built soccer stadium that would give them operational and financial control of their venue. In December 2025, Mayor Sim and Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore building a new stadium at Hastings Racecourse, just days following the permanent end of horse racing at the venue. The proposal also includes a broader entertainment district at the PNE, potentially featuring hotels, a casino, restaurants, bars, and retail. The parties have until the end of 2026 to reach a formal agreement outlining the redevelopment plan.

Currently, there are 30 teams in the MLB, with their stadium capacities ranging from as small as the 25,000-seat Tropicana Field for the Tampa Bay Rays to as large as the 56,000-seat Dodger Stadium for the Los Angeles Dodgers. After Tropicana Field, the next largest stadiums are in the range of between about 35,000 and just under 40,000 seats, including the 39,150-seat Rogers Centre for the Toronto Blue Jays. This is followed by 15 stadiums within the 40,000 to 45,000 capacity range.

Typically, based on precedents, MLB stadiums require roughly 10 to 15 acres of land, depending on their design, configuration, and the scale of amenities and hospitality offerings within the venue (excluding the vast surface parking lots common at some U.S. stadiums). This footprint does not account for adjacent entertainment districts, which may include commercial space, hotels, and residential developments — elements that are increasingly important revenue drivers beyond ballpark operations. This integrated approach is similar to what the Whitecaps are proposing for their mixed-use stadium district project.

Recent examples highlight the scale of such developments. The Tampa Bay Rays are planning a US$2.3-billion ballpark replacement for Tropicana Field, featuring a new 31,000-seat roofed stadium along with a future surrounding mixed-use development. Meanwhile, construction is underway on the Oakland Athletics’ future home in Las Vegas — a US$2-billion project on the former Tropicana site that will include a 33,000-seat domed stadium, not including the large casino, retail, and entertainment complex.

Any MLB venue in Vancouver would likely similarly need a roof, retractable or not, given the city’s wet climate over extensive periods of the baseball season, with the playoffs coinciding with Vancouver’s wet fall season.

There would also be a major economic and tourism windfall not just from the construction of the stadium, but from the benefits of the crowds that can be expected for a minimum of 81 home games each regular season, with tens of thousands of people supporting the city’s businesses, including restaurants, bars, retail, hotels, entertainment establishments, and other services and businesses. Currently, the league has an average attendance of just over 29,000 per game.

There are relatively few suitable site options in the city, given the major footprint requirements, making it easier to narrow them down — especially with large contiguous sites.

Taking all of this into account, here is a breakdown of 13 potential sites within Vancouver’s city limits identified by Daily Hive Urbanized. Each location was selected for its large, contiguous footprint and ability to accommodate an MLB stadium, ranging from relatively feasible options to more ambitious possibilities. The sites are listed in no particular order, with each evaluated using a four-base rating system and visually represented by up to four baseball icons:

Gastown waterfront railyard in downtown Vancouver

Long before the Whitecaps began considering a redevelopment of Hastings Racecourse, they contemplated building a new soccer stadium — 15,000 seats, expandable to 30,000 seats in the future — above the Gastown railyard on the downtown Vancouver waterfront, just east of Canada Place. Whitecaps co-owner Greg Kerfoot acquired the airspace over the railyard to explore such a concept.

This downtown Vancouver waterfront soccer stadium was contemplated in the latter half of the 2000s, but the municipal government later identified a number of issues with the concept, including safety concerns with the venue built on a deck directly above freight trains that could, on occasion, contain hazardous goods, as well as suggestions that a larger footprint would be required. Some revised concepts later contemplated shifting the stadium towards the north, partly built above water on land owned by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.

But when it was apparent that the Whitecaps would be unable to break the impasse over finding a suitable site to build their own stadium, especially in time for the team’s entry into the MLS in 2011, they reached a long-term lease with the provincial government to become one of the tenants of BC Place Stadium, following its completed renovation that year, which also provided a new retractable roof.

The Whitecaps’ previous push for the waterfront soccer stadium concept just north of Gastown triggered the municipal government’s long-term planning process that imagined transforming Waterfront Station into an expanded major public transit hub integrated with surrounding high-density commercial developments. A highly preliminary master plan concept for the area was created by the City in 2009, and the planning process was restarted in recent years, involving the area’s numerous landowners and stakeholders.

Conceivably, a new MLB stadium could be achieved within this Waterfront Station precinct, potentially constructing over the railyard and resolving some of the issues previously raised in the 2000s for the soccer stadium concept.

But unless the railyard serving adjacent major port facilities can be removed, there would be immense added costs to achieve a project that would not be entirely dissimilar to Hudson Yards in New York City, with a deck constructed above the railyard to support new major mixed-use developments.

Very extensive supporting infrastructure and utilities requirements would be needed to support this development, which adds to the construction timeline.

At water’s edge with a backdrop of the harbour, mountains, and the iconic Canada Place sails, this would be a highly attractive stadium location, and it would be well-served by the public transit services at Waterfront Station, including SkyTrain’s Expo and Canada lines, SeaBus, West Coast Express, and numerous major bus services nearby. It would also provide nearby businesses in downtown Vancouver with a major lift, especially those in the struggling Gastown district.

But ultimately, this could be one of the most complicated and expensive sites to build a stadium, especially with the varying interests of the ownership and stakeholder groups in the area. This site is also the final opportunity to provide Vancouver Convention Centre with a seamless major expansion in the future to ensure the facility remains competitive and can attract more and larger conventions, meetings, trade shows, and other events.

The possible feasibility of this Gastown waterfront railyard location option: Fair/most likely; a home run. 4/4. ⚾⚾⚾⚾

False Creek Flats

The False Creek Flats span more than 450 acres, roughly bounded by Main Street to the west, Prior Street to the north, Clark Drive to the east, and Great Northern Way to the south.

Today, the area includes two large railyards, Pacific Central Station, Rocky Mountaineer’s train station, a mix of industrial, life sciences, office, and institutional buildings, extensive surface vehicle parking lots, Strathcona Park, and large-format retailers, notably Home Depot.

Conceivably, an MLB stadium, along with an accompanying entertainment district, could be developed on a portion of this land. However, doing so would require the Metro Vancouver Regional District to amend the area’s land uses.

The Flats are relatively well served by public transit, with three SkyTrain stations located along their edges: Main Street-Science World Station on the Expo Line, VCC-Clark Station on the Millennium Line, and the future Great Northern Way-Emily Carr Station on the Millennium Line’s Broadway extension.

The City of Vancouver’s National Works Yard occupies about 15 acres north of National Avenue, while the adjacent Trillium Park turf field covers approximately eight acres. The City also owns roughly 12 acres of former industrial land just east of Main Street, between Terminal Avenue and Industrial Avenue.

In the 2000s, after plans for the waterfront soccer stadium over the Gastown railyard encountered obstacles, the Whitecaps briefly explored building a soccer stadium on an 18-acre vacant gravel lot at the northwest corner of the Flats, between Chinatown and Pacific Central Station. That site was later acquired by Providence Health Care in a $46-million deal to develop the new St. Paul’s Hospital campus, with construction nearing completion and an opening expected in 2027.

In the 2010s, prior to the adoption of the City’s False Creek Flats Plan, the municipal government led an urban design competition inviting architects, students, and the public to reimagine the area. Some blue-sky pitches envisioned transforming the Flats into a new high-density urban centre and excavating significant areas to re-extend False Creek’s inlet waters into the area.

The possible feasibility of this False Creek Flats location option: Fair/plausible; third base, just short of a home run. 3/4. ⚾⚾⚾

Hastings Racecourse

Could the Hastings Racecourse site accommodate both the Whitecaps’ MLS-calibre, soccer-specific stadium and an MLB ballpark?

MLS stadiums typically have a capacity ranging from about 20,000 to 35,000 seats and require a footprint of roughly 10 to 12 acres.

The former racecourse footprint on the north side of Hastings Park — including the expansive horse barns — spans approximately 40 acres. In theory, this area could support two mid-sized, purpose-built stadiums for MLS and MLB, along with complementary uses such as entertainment, hotel, and commercial developments. The potential footprint could expand further by incorporating PNE’s large surface vehicle parking lot at the northwestern corner of Hastings Park, adjacent to the racecourse.

A dual-stadium concept, combined with an entertainment district, could completely revitalize Hastings Park, greatly strengthen the PNE’s role as a regional destination, and bolster the case for improved transit along the Hastings Street corridor — such as a future SkyTrain line connecting to downtown Vancouver. It would add to the 10,000-capacity Freedom Mobile Arch, the new PNE amphitheatre, reaching completion and opening in June 2026.

Historically, Hastings Park was home to Empire Stadium, a 33,000-seat outdoor venue built for the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games at the park’s southeast corner. It was demolished in 1994 due to aging infrastructure and the growing prominence of BC Place Stadium. The stadium previously hosted the Whitecaps and the CFL’s BC Lions.

A temporary version of the stadium, known as Empire Field, returned to the same location in 2010/2011 while BC Place Stadium underwent renovations. With a capacity of 27,500 seats, it served as an interim venue before being dismantled, after which the site was converted into a now heavily used community sports field and a running track.

Alternatively, an MLB stadium could anchor the racecourse redevelopment if the Whitecaps’ proposal does not proceed.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Whitecaps and the City — focused on securing a long-term land lease and advancing a stadium and entertainment district concept — is set to expire at the end of 2026.

The possible feasibility of this Hastings Racecourse location option: Unlikely; second base. 2/4. ⚾⚾

Renovating BC Place Stadium or demolishing it for a new MLB stadium

Originally built in 1983, BC Place Stadium included retractable lower-bowl seating intended to accommodate a potential MLB team, although the design was never ideal. The stadium hosted several MLB exhibition games using this configuration in the 1980s and 1990s.

More than 40 years later, the venue no longer meets modern MLB standards.

As well, field-of-play limitations — particularly the relatively low height of the centre-hung videoboard and the limited clearance of the retractable roof — pose additional challenges for hosting professional baseball.

Today, the 54,500-seat stadium is home to the Whitecaps and the BC Lions, while also serving as a venue for concerts, trade shows, and other large-scale events.

Between 2008 and 2011, with a brief interruption for the 2010 Winter Olympics, the stadium underwent extensive renovations — its first major upgrades since opening — including the installation of a new retractable roof, new seating, and upgraded suites, washrooms, concourses, and food and beverage facilities. These improvements elevated BC Place to Canada’s flagship stadium, enabling it to host numerous high-profile events, such as World Rugby’s annual Canada Sevens, nine matches during the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup (including the final), and major concerts, most notably the closing shows of Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour.

However, those upgrades are now 15 years old, and parts of the stadium are once again beginning to show their age compared to modern design standards.

In preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the provincial government is investing approximately $200 million in further upgrades, including enhancements to fan areas, suites, media facilities, food and beverage services, elevators, and the installation of a new centre-hung videoboard.

At the same time, discussions about bringing an MLB expansion franchise to Vancouver come as the Whitecaps face ongoing financial challenges at BC Place Stadium, where they operate as a tenant in a provincially owned facility.

While an MLB team could pursue a major renovation of BC Place Stadium from a multifunctional venue to a baseball-specific venue or full redevelopment through demolition, it would likely encounter similar financial and operational constraints unless it secured ownership or long-term control of the venue through acquisition or full property lease.

Ultimately, any such proposal would depend on the provincial government’s willingness to proceed.

Repurposing the BC Place Stadium site could allow for a brand-new, purpose-built MLB stadium in a highly central and accessible location. However, this option presents significant challenges, including the high cost of demolishing the existing concrete-heavy structure.

If a new MLB stadium were built elsewhere, it would raise questions about the long-term future of BC Place Stadium — though not necessarily threaten its viability, given continued demand for large venues to host concerts, conventions, and major events. The stadium already functions as a secondary venue for exhibitions and trade shows that exceed the capacity of the Vancouver Convention Centre’s exhibition halls.

In the mid-1990s, architect Bing Thom proposed an alternative concept for expanding the convention centre in and around the BC Place Stadium site. His plan included creating a large underground exhibition hall by raising the stadium floor to achieve 30-ft-high ceilings, which would have reduced seating capacity by approximately 10,000 seats.

The possible feasibility of the option of using BC Place Stadium, either for a drastic renovation or a complete demolition for a new purpose-built, baseball-specific stadium: Fair/plausible; third base, just short of a home run. 3/4. ⚾⚾⚾

Plaza of Nations

At 10 acres and with its land area shape, the Plaza of Nations site on the Northeast False Creek waterfront — immediately south of BC Place Stadium — is relatively small and tight for the footprint requirements of an MLB stadium.

The site was home to the B.C. Pavilion during Expo ’86, and the remaining structures are remnants of the World’s Fair.

In 2018, City Council approved Canadian Metropolitan Properties’ rezoning application to redevelop the site into a high-density, mixed-use residential and commercial project, envisioned as a waterfront entertainment district anchored by BC Place Stadium and Rogers Arena.

However, the redevelopment stalled before construction began due to a sluggish condominium market. The property was subsequently sold to Northchild in 2023, which has indicated its intention to go back to the drawing board on the project concept with greater density, taller towers, and revised uses. To date, no progress has been made on advancing a new proposal.

Conceivably, an MLB proponent could attempt to acquire the site to develop a stadium here. Given the limited size of the site, additional space requirements could be addressed by extending portions of the structure over the water of False Creek — similar to the Vancouver Convention Centre’s West Building, approximately 35 per cent of which is supported on pilings in the water of Coal Harbour.

Alternatively, a more expansive concept could involve demolishing BC Place Stadium and incorporating part of its southern footprint into a new MLB venue, along with a reconfiguration of Pacific Boulevard. Under this scenario, the provincial government could redevelop the remainder of the BC Place Stadium site, although this would depend on whether the continued existence and operation of the 54,500-seat stadium is deemed sustainable alongside a new MLB facility.

In the late 2000s, when the provincial government first backed plans for a new Vancouver Art Gallery building, then-Premier Gordon Campbell proposed the Plaza of Nations as a potential location. Ultimately, the Gallery selected a different site — the City-owned parking lot next to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

The possible feasibility of this Plaza of Nations location option: Unlikely; second base. 2/4. ⚾⚾

Southeast False Creek vacant lot immediately east of the Cambie Street Bridge

Opposite the Plaza of Nations on the southern side of False Creek, the City of Vancouver owns a largely vacant 22-acre waterfront site, wedged between the Cambie Street Bridge and the Hinge Park/Olympic Village neighbourhood.

Currently, the property is used for a variety of interim purposes, including a major surface vehicle parking lot for the Vancouver Police Department, an urban farm operating under lease, a temporary storage and staging area for the Broadway Subway construction project, and a temporary modular supportive housing building.

The City’s 2005 Southeast False Creek Official Community Plan (SEFOCP) — which guided the City-owned parcel further to the west for the development of the Olympic Village neighbourhood in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics — envisions a relatively modest redevelopment concept for this parcel, known as Area 1A. Nearly two decades later, it remains the last large undeveloped waterfront site within not only the SEFOCP area, but also near the downtown Vancouver peninsula.

Under the outdated area plan, more than 12 acres would be dedicated to public park and open space, including a sports field along the waterfront. Over seven acres on the southern portion would be developed into low- and mid-rise residential buildings, totalling more than 900,000 sq. ft. of residential building floor area. Retail and restaurant space would be astonishingly minimal, with the area plan prescribing just 3,800 sq. ft.

However, the SEFOCP’s proposed building forms and land uses are now dated and do not reflect more recent policy changes, approaches, and best practices. These include 2024 updates to protected mountain view cones allowing for greater building heights, the site’s inclusion within the provincial government’s legislated 800-metre Transit-Oriented Area around Olympic Village Station, and the City’s push for more vibrant commercial and public spaces along its central waterfront and other strategic sites — often citing The Shipyards in North Vancouver as a model.

Conceivably, an MLB proponent could acquire the site or secure a long-term lease to redevelop it into a stadium with an accompanying entertainment district. Similarly, the Whitecaps are pursuing a 99-year lease with the City for the redevelopment of Hastings Racecourse for their potential stadium and entertainment district project.

Such a project next to the Cambie Street Bridge would require significant investment in transportation and utility infrastructure, including a major expansion of Olympic Village Station. The site is also within a short walking distance of Broadway-City Hall Station, which will be served by both the Canada Line and the new Millennium Line extension starting in Fall 2027.

This location could also serve as a major economic anchor for Vancouver’s second city centre — the Central Broadway district within the general vicinity of Cambie Street and West Broadway — as envisioned in the City’s Broadway Plan.

The possible feasibility of this Southeast False Creek vacant site location option east of Cambie Street Bridge: Fair/most likely; a home run. 4/4. ⚾⚾⚾⚾

Langara Golf Course

Over the years, there have been repeated suggestions to repurpose Langara Golf Course, located along the Cambie Street Corridor in a relatively geographically central area of Vancouver that is undergoing significant transformation with high-density tower developments to the south, east, and north.

In the late 2010s, some Vancouver elected officials floated the idea of converting the 120-acre, 18-hole golf course into a public park — either entirely or with a reduced footprint, such as a nine-hole executive course. They envisioned expanded recreational uses, including facilities like a track-and-field complex.

Other ideas over the years have also suggested a mix of new residential development and public park space.

The site is in close proximity to SkyTrain’s Langara-49th Avenue Station, which is increasingly surrounded by new residential developments with ground-level retail and restaurant uses. It is also near the new Oakridge Park mall and planned hotel developments.

Conceivably, an MLB stadium could be developed here alongside an accompanying entertainment district, with the site more than large enough to accommodate such uses. The stadium itself would require only a small portion of the overall 120-acre site, potentially freeing up the majority of the land for other municipal purposes.

However, significant infrastructure upgrades would be required, including a major expansion of Langara-49th Avenue Station.

While such a project could serve as a major anchor for the Cambie Street Corridor near the designated Oakridge Municipal Town Centre area, it would likely be highly politically contentious, beginning with the need for approval from the Vancouver Park Board.

The possible feasibility of this Langara Golf Course location option: Very unlikely; first base. 1/4. ⚾

Marine Gateway industrial lands

Immediately east of SkyTrain’s Marine Drive Station and the Marine Gateway complex, the City of Vancouver owns a 28-acre industrial property known as the Manitoba Works Yard. It serves as one of several hubs for the City’s crews, storage, and operations, including a solid waste transfer facility.

Conceivably, this site in South Vancouver, located along the Fraser River waterfront, could be redeveloped into an MLB stadium with an accompanying entertainment district, either through acquisition or a long-term lease by a franchise.

However, this uncentral location — surrounded by heavy industrial uses to the south and east — does not present Vancouver in its best light. Redevelopment would also require the City to identify and secure a suitable replacement site for its works yard and related operations. In addition, the project would require approval from the Metro Vancouver Regional District.

The possible feasibility of this Marine Gateway industrial lands option: Strikeout! 0/4. 🕳️

Vanier Park

Imagine an MLB stadium occupying a portion of the 80-acre Vanier Park site at Kitsilano Point.

The site meets general footprint size requirements and offers a highly attractive waterfront setting, with sweeping views of English Bay, the mountains, the landmark Senakw towers, and the downtown Vancouver skyline. However, it is not sufficiently served by public transit to support the demands of a major stadium. A concept here could potentially be integrated with new facilities for the Museum of Vancouver and the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre.

That said, such a proposal would almost certainly face strong public opposition — from local residents in Kitsilano and others concerned about the loss of public park space. There would also be potential governance challenges involving the Park Board, as well as political sensitivities related to the Squamish Nation and the site.

The possible feasibility of this Vanier Park location option: Strikeout! 0/4. 🕳️

Queen Elizabeth Park’s tennis courts or pitch-and-putt golf course

A proposal to redevelop part of the southern base of Little Mountain — home to the 130-acre Queen Elizabeth Park — into an MLB stadium would be highly controversial, to say the least, similar to the aforementioned Vanier Park option. This concept specifically involves either the southwest quadrant of the park, which contains numerous tennis and pickleball courts as well as a large off-leash dog area, or the southeast quadrant, which includes the pitch-and-putt golf course.

The southern side of Little Mountain features relatively gentler topography and more open green space, making construction easier in terms of the grade compared to other areas of the park to the north. But construction could be challenged by hard basalt rock beneath the surface, given Little Mountain’s volcanic history millions of years ago, when it was a volcanic dike.

The southwest quadrant option is also closer to Oakridge-41st Avenue Station and the new Oakridge Park mall.

For the Brisbane 2032 Summer Olympics, Australian authorities plan to redevelop a portion of Victoria Park — a similarly sized park — into their new 63,000-seat Olympic Stadium for athletics and ceremonies.

The possible feasibility of this Queen Elizabeth Park location option on the southern side of Little Mountain: Strikeout! 0/4. 🕳️

Jericho Lands

One of the largest future development sites in Vancouver is the Jericho Lands, spanning 90 acres in the West Point Grey neighbourhood. The site was historically used by the Canadian Forces and is now owned by MST Development Corporation, a joint venture of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.

In partnership with the First Nations, the Jericho Lands redevelopment concept could potentially be retooled to incorporate an MLB stadium. To offset the land required for the stadium, increased density could be allocated to other portions of the site. This added density would support not only additional residential development but also expanded commercial space for an accompanying entertainment district.

Such a project could further strengthen the business case for extending SkyTrain’s Millennium Line from Arbutus Station to the University of British Columbia, with a station located at the Jericho Lands. TransLink’s long-term plans currently target this extension for the 2030s.

The possible feasibility of this Jericho Lands location option: Strikeout! 0/4. 🕳️

Heather Lands

This is another property owned by MST Development, located along the Cambie Street Corridor just west of Queen Elizabeth Park. It is also within a short walking distance of Oakridge-41st Avenue Station and the new Oakridge Park mall to the south.

However, high-density residential redevelopment plans for the Heather Lands are already at a very advanced stage. Earlier this year, City Council approved a revised rezoning application that allows the multi-phased project to increase its housing supply by 63 per cent, bringing the total to over 4,200 units. The plan also includes a significant affordable housing component tied to provincial government financing.

Introducing an MLB stadium at this 21-acre site, even in partnership with the First Nations, would significantly reduce the land available for residential development, including affordable housing.

The possible feasibility of this Heather Lands location option: Strikeout! 0/4. 🕳️

River District

Most of Wesgroup Properties’ 130-acre River District neighbourhood in the East Fraserlands, located in the southeastern corner of Vancouver along the Fraser River waterfront, has yet to be developed. The area is planned as a high-density residential community anchored by a retail village.

Well over half of the residential development remains unbuilt, including several large parcels closer to the riverfront.

The site is well served by major roads but lacks robust public transit — an issue that already challenges the area as it works to support its growing population. It is also not a prominent or representative location within the city.

The possible feasibility of this River District location option: Strikeout! 0/4. 🕳️

In summary…

You might also like:
• Vancouver mayor explains the need for a City-led bid process to pursue an Major League Baseball expansion team
• Mayor Ken Sim calls for bidding process for Major League Baseball expansion franchise in Vancouver
• Is Ken Sim's MLB pitch a bunt or a home run? Vancouver reacts
• How Vancouver's population compares to current MLB cities
• A Whitecaps soccer stadium with an entertainment district — and maybe SkyTrain? What’s next for Vancouver's Hastings Park and the PNE
• 72% of Metro Vancouver residents support the idea of Major League Baseball expansion team: survey