Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim wants potential owners for a Major League Baseball expansion team to step up to the plate.
On Wednesday, Vancouver city council approved opening an “expression of interest” process to find a qualified potential ownership group wanting to pursue an MLB expansion franchise in Vancouver.
“Our chance has arrived, and this should be a home run,” Sim said.
He said the MLB is considering adding two new expansion teams over the next few years and that the commissioner of the MLB is interested in teams in the west.
Sim submitted the motion calling to start the process, saying it’s a “once-in-a-generation opportunity.”
He added the plan could bring economic activity, civic pride and “another world-class amenity” to Vancouver.
“I want to assure everyone that this motion did not come out of left field,” Sim said at council. “Our office has been approached by serious proponents regarding a potential bid for the MLB.”
He called the interested parties “incredibly credible.”
And the city wouldn’t use tax dollars to pay to bring a franchise to Vancouver or build a stadium, according to Sim.
“It’s my intention at least that there will be absolutely no public money involved,” Sim said.
But one councillor expressed concerns and voted against Sim’s motion.
Coun. Sean Orr pressed Sim on whether an MLB stadium would use public land.
Sim said the question was “getting ahead of ourselves.”
“I’m sure there are numerous sites across the city that could be potentially used for a Major League Baseball stadium,” Sim said.
First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reacts as the Toronto Blue Jays clinch the American League Championship Series in Game 7 at home in Toronto in October. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)
Orr also asked Sim who the proponents were, but Sim did not answer and said starting the expression of interest process was to create transparency.
City manager Donny van Dyk told councillors that while professional sports expansions are unusual, unsolicited proposals to council and the mayor are not.
He said best practice is to open a bid process to ensure staff are meeting with credible proponents.
Orr said he would oppose Sim’s motion as there are too many challenges to bringing an MLB team to Vancouver, such as a lack of corporate headquarters (which Orr cited as a reason the city lost the ill-fated Vancouver Grizzlies of the NBA).
He added the city is also at risk of losing the Whitecaps.
“This just seems like a pop-fly with no runs scored,” Orr said.
Sim’s motion passed with only Orr opposed.
Potential owners will have to show their financial capacity, expertise and a “feasible approach and governance structure sufficient to support a credible proposal,” according to Sim’s motion.
Staff will report back to council, potentially in a closed meeting, within 60 days of starting the expression of interest process.