The Vancouver Whitecaps have had success on and off the pitch this season. <\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the financial department, it\u2019s been a different story.<\/p>\n
The on-pitch performance and the number of supporters that are coming to BC Place do not match what\u2019s happening behind the scenes in terms of generated revenue, with one particular deal frustrating the team.<\/p>\n
BC Place concessions deal causing trouble<\/p>\n
Whitecaps CEO and Sporting Director Axel Schuster is displeased with the revenue Vancouver is missing out on because of the club\u2019s current contract with PavCo, the provincial Crown corporation that operates BC Place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNet food and beverage, we are last in this league with being a top-10 attendance club,\u201d Schuster told reporters at a luncheon earlier this week. \u201cClubs 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Whitecaps\u2019 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Schuster also revealed that the club overall is losing money.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, 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.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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<\/a> | #VWFC<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/WAgU1BvqQV<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sarita Patel (@SaritaReports) October 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Could Thomas M\u00fcller be a Whitecaps co-owner?<\/p>\n Whitecaps ownership continues to look for potential new investors, and it\u2019s clear that M\u00fcller<\/a> is enamoured by Vancouver<\/a>. A potential partnership between M\u00fcller and Whitecaps ownership would only cement M\u00fcller\u2019s growing status with Vancouverites.\u00a0<\/p>\n But despite a rumour circulating, don\u2019t expect it to happen anytime soon, or at all.<\/p>\n \u201cI also saw this rumour,\u201d Schuster said. \u201cI 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Vancouver has a Designated Player club option on M\u00fcller\u2019s contract for 2026. Teams have until November 26 to exercise options unless the team is playing in the conference finals.<\/p>\n \u201cMy feeling is there\u2019s things that we want to do together next year,\u201d Schuster said. \u201cIt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Grass not coming before FIFA World Cup\u00a0<\/p>\n 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\u2019s going to be a hectic campaign before and after the Whitecaps vacate BC Place.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe grass comes in pretty late,\u201d Schuster said. \u201cI have no exact date when the grass is coming in.\u201d<\/p>\n What is Schuster\u2019s future with the club?\u00a0<\/p>\n The 53-year-old Schuster\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there\u2019s still a lot of steps to go [here],\u201d Schuster said. \u201cThere\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier this year, Schuster\u2019s name came up in relation to a job with German club FC Augsburg.<\/p>\n