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Vancouver Whitecaps situation getting more urgent: 'We really have to speed up'

Har Johal
Har Johal
|
May 7 2026, 4:52 pm
Vancouver Whitecaps situation getting more urgent: 'We really have to speed up'
Simon Fearn/Imagn Images

Vancouver Whitecaps CEO and Sporting Director Axel Schuster met with the local media on Wednesday.

The hour-long roundtable conversation touched on several pertinent topics. 

Noise surrounding the Whitecaps’ future appeared to reach a fever pitch last week, as Las Vegas relocation rumours came to light.

Things seems more urgent now.

“There’s no deadline,” Schuster said. “Everyone should know that we really have to speed up to find the solutions or to get at least to the point to what is the best that we can get in certain categories. I want to be very clear, we have never asked for donations, we have never asked for some funding.

“We are asking to work on creative solutions.”

What do the Whitecaps want?

While pressure ramped up on the provincial government in recent weeks, there still seems to be confusion about what the Whitecaps are actually looking for.

We also haven’t heard from the team’s current ownership group, as Greg Kerfoot, Jeff Mallett, Steve Luczo, and Steve Nash continue to refuse to speak publicly.

Schuster said blaming them for not speaking is “not fair.”

“This is really not what our ownership group does,” Schuster said. “They have never asked to get credit for the work that’s done. I don’t think it’s fair to blame them. If there is a significant update or something to say, I’m pretty sure that we would hear from them.”

The Whitecaps have yet to submit a proposal to the BC government to take over the day-to-day operations at BC Place from PavCo. If the Whitecaps decide to take this route, they could potentially manage every inch of BC Place and earn a bigger chunk of revenue.   

“It’s very important to say that BC Place alone will not solve our situation,” Schuster said. “We’re not asking for donations or funding. I will not negotiate in the public and say what exactly we need. We need a significant improvement in all categories that generate revenue to us or that are costing us money right now.” 

Where are all the offers?

In April, the Whitecaps said that they’ve had conversations with more than 100 parties, and no viable offer has emerged that would keep the club in Vancouver. Of those 100 parties that have had talks, fewer than half have moved forward to the next step with Goldman Sachs. 

“They haven’t allowed all 100 (groups) in our data room,” Schuster said. “You need to fulfil certain criteria to be considered in this league. I’m speaking more about this 30+ number that are the groups who have really signed the NDA. These groups have all the insight into all of our financials and a lot of things about this league.”

Of those 30+ groups that have passed the initial stage with Goldman Sachs, the feedback that has come in is that the current model isn’t viable. Merging the groups together to bring together a super group doesn’t work because they don’t believe in the Whitecaps model. 

Schuster did admit that the recent uptick in coverage has renewed some level of interest. 

“I’ve seen a lot more people reaching out who want to help that think they can be part of the solution,” Schuster said. “We haven’t seen an increase in people who really want to buy the whole club, at least not who have really made a serious effort.”

Later in the day, MLA Ravi Kahlon shared news that a potential ownership group had reached out to the provincial government, and they’re preparing a bid.

Love from supporters of other teams

The Save the Caps campaign has reached supporters groups all across MLS and beyond. Columbus, New England, New York, Seattle, and Portland are among the places where fans have brought signs and chanted “Save the Caps” in the stands. 

“It’s great,” Whitecaps defender Ranko Veselinovic told Daily Hive earlier this week. “That just shows how important other fan bases think the Whitecaps are for the league. The Whitecaps belong in the league. The Whitecaps are one of the oldest teams. It means a lot to the league and the city. It’s just nice to have support from other fan bases.”

Tristan Blackmon has also seen the unwavering support across MLS. 

“It’s very cool to see,” Blackmon told Daily Hive. “Obviously, the Whitecaps have been around for a very long time, and clubs around the league recognize that. The history that the club has in being here for so long, it’s really nice to see that other supporter groups are stepping up to support the movement that we’ve got going on here.”

What’s next?

Schuster will meet with the BC government on Thursday. MLS Executive Vice President Charles Altchek will be in Vancouver next week for further meetings with Schuster and the BC government. MLS Commissioner Don Garber is not expected in Vancouver next week. 

On the pitch, the top two teams in MLS will meet at PayPal Park on Saturday when the Whitecaps visit the San Jose Earthquakes. Vancouver trails San Jose by three points with a match in hand. 

San Jose is the only MLS team to defeat the Whitecaps this season and the only MLS side to keep Vancouver off the scoresheet. The Whitecaps are 1-0-1 away from BC Place this season. 

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