The Vancouver Whitecaps have had success on and off the pitch this season.

The Whitecaps have picked up the highest point total in MLS franchise history, home pitch advantage in the playoffs, and several players nominated for MLS league awards, and fans have been filling up BC Place. 

In the financial department, it’s been a different story.

The on-pitch performance and the number of supporters that are coming to BC Place do not match what’s happening behind the scenes in terms of generated revenue, with one particular deal frustrating the team.

BC Place concessions deal causing trouble

Whitecaps CEO and Sporting Director Axel Schuster is displeased with the revenue Vancouver is missing out on because of the club’s current contract with PavCo, the provincial Crown corporation that operates BC Place. 

“Net food and beverage, we are last in this league with being a top-10 attendance club,” Schuster told reporters at a luncheon earlier this week. “Clubs that are having half of our attendance are making three times the revenue of us in this category. A club that is also a Canadian club that has a similar attendance is making 10 times the money. We are top-10 in the league, we should at least have a chance to get to average revenue out of that.”

The Whitecaps’ contract with PavCo is set to expire at the end of December. Both parties are in negotiations, and it is expected that the two sides will reach an agreement to keep Whitecaps home matches at 777 Pacific Boulevard for the immediate future. 

But Schuster also revealed that the club overall is losing money. 

“Unfortunately, being a top 10 team in this league in every single statistic, the one statistic where we are a bottom 10 team is actually in losses right now.”   

Media roundtable with CEO and Sporting Director Axel Schuster sits down with media to answer all their burning questions. Along with a lunch of course! @WhitecapsFC | #VWFC pic.twitter.com/WAgU1BvqQV

— Sarita Patel (@SaritaReports) October 20, 2025

Could Thomas Müller be a Whitecaps co-owner?

Whitecaps ownership continues to look for potential new investors, and it’s clear that Müller is enamoured by Vancouver. A potential partnership between Müller and Whitecaps ownership would only cement Müller’s growing status with Vancouverites. 

But despite a rumour circulating, don’t expect it to happen anytime soon, or at all.

“I also saw this rumour,” Schuster said. “I can say, one hundred percent, no. This was never a conversation. This was never something that we discussed. We probably will discuss with him [a contract option for] 2026, but not anything else right now on the agenda.” 

Vancouver has a Designated Player club option on Müller’s contract for 2026. Teams have until November 26 to exercise options unless the team is playing in the conference finals.

“My feeling is there’s things that we want to do together next year,” Schuster said. “It will be just a matter of a discussion of two or three minutes finalizing that. Everything is prepared and needs a final execution from both sides.”

Grass not coming before FIFA World Cup 

The Whitecaps are expected to play in up to four competitions next season, including MLS, Concacaf Champions Cup, League Cup, and the Canadian Championship. It’s going to be a hectic campaign before and after the Whitecaps vacate BC Place.

FIFA will take possession of BC Place by May 13. As much as fans would like to see it, Vancouver will not play any matches at BC Place on grass before or after the World Cup.

“The grass comes in pretty late,” Schuster said. “I have no exact date when the grass is coming in.”

What is Schuster’s future with the club? 

The 53-year-old Schuster’s contract with the Whitecaps is set to expire at the end of December 2026, and he has kept his future in Vancouver close to his sweater vest, offering not to comment on a possible extension.

“I think there’s still a lot of steps to go [here],” Schuster said. “There’s a lot of things I envision to happen over the next years for this club, where I think you have to be smart, fast, creative to find the best way for yourself to compete with the best, and that attracts me. I feel challenged every day here.”

Earlier this year, Schuster’s name came up in relation to a job with German club FC Augsburg.

#VWFC‘s Axel Schuster asked if he has interviewed for the Augsburg sporting director job.

“I’m not commenting on that, but I can tell everyone and that’s what I think the supporters of the Whitecaps are interested in, that I’m here and I will lead this club into the next era.”

— Har Journalist (@HarJournalist) May 29, 2025

When do the Whitecaps begin their MLS Playoffs run?

The Whitecaps’ playoff journey will kick off on Sunday, October 26, when Vancouver hosts FC Dallas in Game 1 of a best-of-3 series. Due to high demand, there will be limited seating that will be opened in the BC Place upper bowl.

“The momentum around the team is unprecedented,” Schuster said in a statement. “We’re excited to kick off our playoff journey this Sunday with all our fans.”