Will the Whitecaps stake their bets on a future in Sin City?<\/p>\n
Get the latest from Patrick Johnston straight to your inbox Sign Up <\/p>\n
Published Apr 30, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 1\u00a0hour ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 5 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.<\/p>\n The exit door seems to have opened a little wider for the Vancouver Whitecaps, and the bright lights of Sin City<\/a> are on the other side.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n A group headed up by a member of the Gutavson family, whose late patriarch founded Public Storage in the 1970s, announced their interest Thursday in buying the Major League Soccer club.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Grant Gustavson, son of one of the wealthiest women in America \u2014 Tamara Gustavson, worth about $8.5 billion US \u2014 is heading up a bid to bring the Caps to Las Vegas. According to reporting by Sportico and The Athletic, Gustavson\u2019s group has submitted an offer to MLS officials for their consideration. As part of their proposal, the group says they will build their own soccer stadium<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Whitecaps\u2019 owners put the team up for sale<\/a> in December 2024 and say they have have more than 100 inquiries, but no one has made an offer to take over the team as long as their current stadium arrangement exists.<\/p>\n Major League Soccer commission Don Garber, in Vancouver for the FIFA Congress, walked past reporters Thursday afternoon and didn\u2019t respond to questions. A MLS spokesperson said the league wanted the focus to remain on the congress and would comment on the Whitecaps later.<\/p>\n The Whitecaps themselves have not responded to requests for comment either.<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim told reporters the news of such a bid is obviously very concerning.<\/p>\n \u201cWe should all be concerned, and that goes well before Vegas came into the picture,\u201d he said, before suggesting that the reality that the team could move seems to have shaken a few people awake.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of groups have reached out over the last 48 hours, and so, you know, I don\u2019t want to give anyone false hope, because we do have a hill to climb,\u201d Sim said. \u201cThe city, we\u2019ve done everything we can to make sure that we set up a future ownership group with a path toward success. Now it\u2019s up to the province to step up.\u201d<\/p>\n While the Vegas bid is alarming, it\u2019s also fair to point out that it is a market many have figured would be a target for the league to expand to. This could also be a ploy to simply get a bid in front of all other suitors for a new Vegas squad.<\/p>\n That said, if no new local owner emerges, it\u2019s clear that MLS is now ready to take the team to a new market.<\/p>\n Sim added that he sat with Garber for some of the congress and they discussed the situation again.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have a commissioner who wants to see football or soccer succeed in the city of Vancouver,\u201d Sim insisted. \u201cI think that\u2019s very promising. (But) at the end of the day, the economics have to work for whoever the future owner is.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cWe know in Vancouver, we have a deep love for the Whitecaps. It\u2019s part of our history. It\u2019s part of our heritage. The fans have stepped up. We had, what, 27,000 fans that came out to the last game. So we know the market can support the team. It\u2019s just, that they have a stadium deal right now that doesn\u2019t really work, and so we\u2019re working through that.\u201d<\/p>\n The Whitecaps and Garber have said that continuing to play at B.C. Place<\/a> was untenable because they couldn\u2019t generate enough non-ticket revenue to make up a large revenue deficit.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster said the league\u2019s average per-term revenue was about $40 million US, and that the Whitecaps were at the back of the pack. Logic alone suggests this figure is dragged up by a handful of teams who are very profitable, such as Inter Miami and LAFC. In other words, there are many teams that are not making $40 million in revenue.<\/p>\n The league has a global TV rights package with Apple, but it is understood to not be terribly lucrative and is one of several revenue challenges many teams face.<\/p>\n The Whitecaps have remained pretty consistent that they need a new stadium, and did reach a deal with the city of Vancouver late last year that gave them a year-long window to put together a stadium entertainment district project.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n B.C.\u2019s Minister for Jobs and Economic Growth Ravi Kahlon told reporters in Victoria earlier on Thursday that the government had a meeting on Wednesday with Garber which he felt had brought some clarity to the situation and that they agreed to have another meeting. He felt this was a positive sign.<\/p>\n He also said that while there have been many meetings between the government and the Whitecaps over how B.C. Place<\/a> is run, the team has never formally put forward a proposal to take over management of the stadium from PavCo, the Crown corporation that runs the stadium and other facilities in Vancouver.<\/p>\n \u201cFnding ways to get more revenue and lower their overhead,\u201d was how Kahlon described the broad substance of their meetings. \u201cThe ideas that were brought forward were accepted by PavCo. That\u2019s why their costs have been reduced by $2 million, and the additional opportunities that they (brought forward) have actually raised their revenues by more than $1 million. So, they are plus-$3 million just this year from those discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n Kahlon insisted it is in the province\u2019s interest to keep the Whitecaps in town.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cThe premier made that very clear,\u201d Kahlon said about Wednesday\u2019s meeting with Garber. \u201cWe\u2019ve been clear since day one. We want to see the Whitecaps continue to be here. They are an important part of our community.<\/p>\n \u201cWe understand the owners want to sell. We understand the value has gone from $35 million to close to $500 million, and they see an opportunity to cash in on that. But we also believe that the MLS owes it to the fans in Vancouver to do whatever they can to keep the team here. They\u2019ve stepped up in the past in Columbus and other situations, and this might be an opportunity for them to step in as well.\u201d<\/p>\n pjohnston@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Stop with the clown show, and get a deal done to keep the Whitecaps in Vancouver<\/p>\n![\"Vancouver](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0501-col-caps-1.jpg\")
Vancouver Whitecaps supporters rally to keep the team in Vancouver, outside the Vancouver Convention Centre which is hosting the FIFA Congress, in Vancouver, B.C., April 30, 2026. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO \/PNGArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/21.1.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\n![\"whitecaps\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/png0430nwhitecaps-04_302864782.jpg\")
Vancouver Whitecaps supporters rally to keep the team in Vancouver, outside the Vancouver Convention Centre which is hosting the FIFA Congress, in Vancouver, April 30. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO \/PNG<\/p>\n![\"Canucks](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/21.1.1\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-vs-canucksReport.svg\"\/){kind=icon}
<\/p>\n![\"Vancouver](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/soc-mls-vancouver-fans-20260425_302789385-e1777217739798.jpg\")
Vancouver Whitecaps fans hold \u2018Save the Caps\u2019 signs before the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Colorado Rapids in Vancouver, on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Photo by ETHAN CAIRNS \/THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n![\"Vancouver](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/png0430nwhitecaps-01_302862934-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![\"Vancouver](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1777597872_973_soc-mls-vancouver-fans-20260425_302789385-e1777217739798.jpg\")
<\/p>\n