{"id":802652,"date":"2026-07-15T02:58:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T02:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/802652\/"},"modified":"2026-07-15T02:58:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T02:58:10","slug":"vancouver-whitecaps-pitch-plan-to-take-over-bc-place-operations-daily-hive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/802652\/","title":{"rendered":"Vancouver Whitecaps pitch plan to take over BC Place operations | Daily Hive"},"content":{"rendered":"

Will they stay, or will they go?<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a question we\u2019ve been asking ever since the Vancouver Whitecaps were first put up for sale 19 months ago. We\u2019re still not sure of the answer.<\/p>\n

The Las Vegas threat<\/a> seems as real as ever. I speak to some people who believe the team is as good as gone. Then you hear guys like Victor Montagliani, the East Vancouver native and FIFA vice president, who told Sekeres and Price recently<\/a>: \u201cThey\u2019re not going anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

“They’re not going anywhere. <\/p>\n

-Victor Montagliani, FIFA vice president.@mattsekeres<\/a> | @justBlakePrice<\/a> | @WhitecapsFC<\/a> <\/p>\n

Presented by @MovemberCA<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/j7O98RFaMr<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sekeres and Price (@sekeresandprice) June 20, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to know what to believe.<\/p>\n

What we do know is, they are talking. Discussions are ongoing between the Whitecaps, PavCo, and multiple levels of government, Daily Hive can confirm.<\/p>\n

The Whitecaps are looking to increase match-day revenues, which currently rank near the bottom of Major League Soccer, despite excellent attendance figures. Over 30,000 seats have already been sold<\/a> for the Whitecaps\u2019 return to BC Place on Aug. 1, for instance.<\/p>\n

Fan support isn\u2019t the problem.<\/p>\n

One idea that has been kicked around for months is the possibility of the Whitecaps taking over control of BC Place. They wouldn\u2019t own the stadium, but they could control it in an effort to become more profitable. It\u2019s a model used by some other pro sports franchises in North America, including Toronto FC.<\/p>\n

AFTN\u2019s Michael McColl, a longtime Whitecaps reporter, dropped a nugget of information regarding this topic on his most recent podcast<\/a>. His report, which has since been confirmed by Patrick Johnston of Postmedia<\/a>, states that the Whitecaps have submitted an offer to PavCo.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy understanding is that on Friday, the Whitecaps submitted an offer to PavCo in concerning the running of BC Place,\u201d said McColl. \u201cThey\u2019ll take on the running of the stadium and PavCo will get a share of the revenue. The Whitecaps will control the dates.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"don<\/p>\n

Vincent Carchietta\/Imagn Images<\/p>\n

MLS Commissioner Don Garber spoke about some of the ways the Whitecaps could increase revenues at BC Place during a visit to Vancouver last November. When speaking with reporters, he wondered aloud why the naming rights to BC Place were never sold to a sponsor.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll take that over in a heartbeat. We\u2019re good at that,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ll take over the commercial operations and sell sponsorships if we\u2019re given the opportunity. I think the club would be great at that.\u201d<\/p>\n

You might also like:Vancouver Whitecaps expecting massive crowd for long-awaited BC Place return<\/a>Opinion: FIFA World Cup was a reminder of BC Place Stadium’s enduring and irreplaceable value<\/a>
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