Is MLS Considering a Move for the Whitecaps to Las Vegas? Here’s What Vancouver Fans Need to Know

MLS Team Relocation to Las Vegas Possible Amid Financial Struggles

LAS VEGAS — Major League Soccer (MLS) could soon see a team relocation to Las Vegas, as an investment group headed by Grant Gustavson aims to acquire the financially struggling Vancouver Whitecaps and establish them in a new stadium near the Las Vegas Strip.

Gustavson, a 30-year-old Las Vegas resident and USC graduate with strong ties to the school’s athletic program, submitted a formal offer to the league last week. The Whitecaps have been available for purchase for 16 months but efforts to maintain the team in Vancouver have faced considerable pushback.

“We are a world-class football town,” said David Eby, the premier of British Columbia, in a video posted on social media. “Losing the Whitecaps is not an option.”

Despite Eby’s sentiment, financial realities present a stark challenge. The Whitecaps, an MLS Cup finalist last year and currently performing strongly this season, have reportedly incurred losses exceeding $300 million since joining MLS 15 years ago. This season, they are projected to lose as much as $45 million.

Moreover, the team may soon find itself without a venue, as their lease at BC Place—a 54,000-seat stadium—expires at the end of this year.

Currently, the Whitecaps are owned by Greg Kerfoot, a Vancouver software billionaire who purchased the team in 2002, prior to its entry into MLS. Despite Kerfoot’s desire to keep the team in Vancouver, interest from potential buyers has dwindled after reviewing the team’s financial situation.

“Everybody’s like, ‘this is a bad business model. We’re not interested,’” said a source familiar with the discussions, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “If somebody can find that white knight to keep the team in Vancouver, it’ll be great. But the sharks are circling when it comes to the other markets, and right now, Vegas is the one that submitted a formal proposal.”

The stadium arrangement in Vancouver stands as a significant hurdle to retaining the team. Under the existing agreement with BC Place, which is owned by a provincial Crown corporation, the Whitecaps have limited access to revenue streams, receiving only 12.5% of food and beverage revenues and none from parking.

MLS has emphasized its commitment to working with the Whitecaps and local stakeholders to explore potential long-term solutions, but challenges abound.

“Major League Soccer remains focused on working with the Whitecaps and local stakeholders to determine whether a sustainable long-term path for the club can be achieved,” said league spokesperson Dan Courtemanche. “However, stadium economics, scheduling restrictions, and a lack of government and corporate support have created ongoing structural challenges that make it difficult to establish a viable path forward for the club.”

Despite the efforts to keep the team in Vancouver, Commissioner Don Garber has engaged with Eby and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim to discuss alternatives. The league is reportedly considering expanding to 32 teams following the World Cup, suggesting that if the Whitecaps were to move, Gustavson and Las Vegas could become prime candidates for future expansion.

Gustavson’s representatives have highlighted the city’s growing soccer fan base and the privately financed nature of their investment model. However, they did not specify the Whitecaps, indicating an openness to pursuing an expansion team.

Additionally, other MLS teams, such as the San José Earthquakes, are also in search of buyers, with ownership concerns tied to their future locations. John Fisher, who owns both the Earthquakes and MLB’s Oakland Athletics, has been seeking a buyer for the soccer team as he prepares for his baseball team’s move to Las Vegas.

As MLS navigates this period of transition, the future of the Whitecaps continues to hang in the balance.

“Somebody is going to buy the team, and they’re gonna keep the team there,” the anonymous source said, suggesting a clearer path for San Jose compared to Vancouver.

In recent years, Las Vegas has become an attractive destination for professional sports, with both WNBA and NFL teams successfully relocating to the city. As the MLS assesses its options, the financial viability of the Whitecaps may ultimately determine their fate.