Vancouver Whitecaps owners could backtrack on plan to sell the team
What a week it’s been for the Vancouver Whitecaps.
With Thomas Müller officially being introduced to fans and media on Thursday, there’s plenty of hype for what exactly the Whitecaps will look like moving forward.
Müller is many things: one of the most accomplished players in the history of the sport, among the biggest names to ever don an MLS jersey, and already a fan-favourite attraction who’s been selling jerseys and tickets like crazy.
One thing Müller isn’t, however, is a long-term plan. He’s only signed for the remainder of this season and next, and clearly much closer to the end of his career than the start at age 35, soon to be 36 next month.
That doesn’t mean he’s simply a player here for show, but he’s more someone looking to help in the short term than be a talisman for years to come.
And whether Müller is in Vancouver or not, two of the biggest questions surrounding the Whitecaps remain: who’s going to own the team, and where are they going to play in the future?
Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett, and Steve Nash had previously signalled their intention to sell the club, while talks had been held to perhaps move from BC Place to a new stadium constructed on the PNE grounds.
Forbes valued the Whitecaps at $420 million back in February, ranking 28th out of 29 MLS teams.
“We need a partner,” he said. “We are willing to stay and bring the knowledge base we have.”
A “new partner” is quite the departure from earlier statements made by the group.
“The current ownership has built a solid foundation for Whitecaps FC – it is the right time for an owner with the platform, resources and ambition to enhance the club’s ability to compete at the highest levels of MLS and steward the club in realizing its significant potential,” reads a December 2024 statement from the ownership group.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber had previously acknowledged the need for a new stadium, while also stating that there were no plans to move the Whitecaps out of Vancouver.
At the very least, things appear to be trending in the direction that the team will remain in B.C., just perhaps with a few new names in the upper echelons of the organization and a new home site.
- You might also like:
- 'He found us': Why Thomas Müller chose the Vancouver Whitecaps