More details revealed on Vancouver's MLB bid and Ryan Reynolds is apparently interested
It was news that was met with some skepticism: could Vancouver actually be in line for an MLB expansion team?
The Vancouver Grizzlies didn’t work, and the city is at risk of losing the Vancouver Whitecaps as well. That doesn’t scream readiness for an MLB team.
However, this bid seems to have legs.
After Vancouver City Council approved a motion for the city to seek prospective owners of an MLB franchise, some key names have already started to emerge.
The Globe and Mail’s Gary Mason reported on Monday that, according to multiple sources, local businessman Zack Ross is leading the charge for bringing an expansion MLB team to Vancouver.
Ross is president of The Cape Group, a residential and commercial real estate firm. The firm was founded by his maternal grandfather, Ralph Schwartzman. Back in 2021, Ross stated that the firm’s focus was on rental builds.
While Ross may prefer to stay out of the spotlight for now, a potential partner is used to the bright lights.
Ryan Reynolds is among those interested in being part of owning an MLB team in Vancouver, according to Mason. Reynolds’ net worth is estimated to be around US$350 million.
The Vancouver-based actor currently owns Wrexham FC, and has done so since 2021. The club has risen in the ranks since Reynolds took over, and a docuseries has also capitalized on their success.
Other wealthy investors who are rumoured to be involved with Vancouver’s MLB bid include 49ers Enterprises, which owns the San Francisco 49ers, along with other professional sports clubs, like Leeds United in the English Premier League.
Ross reportedly recruited the help of Jack Sperling from Grit Rock Ventures to help find other interested suitors. Sperling helped Seattle land an NHL team previously.
Not only are there some potentially interested players in this surprise expansion bid, but they already have their sights set on a location.
While there were a handful of intriguing options locally, the Ross-led group seems to have its sights set on a 20-acre set of land on the south side of False Creek, just east of the Cambie Street Bridge.
Could the lightly shaded area be home to Vancouver’s newest MLB team? (Google Maps)
The location would certainly be scenic, with BC Place, Rogers Arena, False Creek, and the downtown landscape as a backdrop.
There are renderings of an open-air stadium, according to Mason, rather than a retractable-roof ballpark like the Seattle Mariners have.
Lots of big ideas are floating around, but clearly, deep pockets will be needed to make this dream a reality.
Estimated costs for MLB expansion range from US$2 billion to US$2.5 billion. Including costs of building a new stadium and building a new entertainment district, those costs could be around US$5 billion.
MLB is expected to announce two new expansion teams in late 2027 or early 2028, with plans for those teams to be playing by 2029.