Whitecaps MLS news

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

They want to sell the club for $500M+ and they can get a higher price in Vegas for various reasons. It's greed. Everything else is noise.

Bingo. Blaming the province is just a smokescreen - the plan was always to cash in their cheques and split.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

Vancouver just offers nothing, period. It's astonishing how we're a city that has no festivities at every major holidays. No fireworks or parades in the summer.

The City attracts newcomers due to the aesthetics along with the clean air and temperate weather but people quickly realize how incredibly dull the region is.

Well, the people who use them could always pay for them.

[kikin]

really wish we would bring back the big fireworks celebrations but I get the feeling that people in general are getting less well behaved as the years go by and officials are nervous about events that draw 50,000 people

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by kikin

really wish we would bring back the big fireworks celebrations...

That's lack of money, not lack of security. Last year's Celebration of Light went off without a hitch.

[northernlights99]

how's the FC Montreal team doing ? are they suffering same financial issues Vancouver is ? and Toronto ?

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by northernlights99

how's the FC Montreal team doing ? are they suffering same financial issues Vancouver is ? and Toronto ?

According to Forbes, none of the Canadian clubs have an operating surplus. That's also true for about half the US teams in the MLS.

[RedArbutus]

Originally Posted by kikin

really wish we would bring back the big fireworks celebrations but I get the feeling that people in general are getting less well behaved as the years go by and officials are nervous about events that draw 50,000 people

I'm not sure I fully agree, I think the fireworks have gotten way safer over time. That's partially based on my gut and partially based on hazy memories of VPD reported stats. I feel like 15 or 20 years ago it attracted some rough people. Some fighting among petty gangs amidst the crowds, knives being confiscated by VPD, the works. I think there's been much less of that in recent years.

[kikin]

Originally Posted by RedArbutus

I'm not sure I fully agree, I think the fireworks have gotten way safer over time. That's partially based on my gut and partially based on hazy memories of VPD reported stats. I feel like 15 or 20 years ago it attracted some rough people. Some fighting among petty gangs amidst the crowds, knives being confiscated by VPD, the works. I think there's been much less of that in recent years.

interesting, I remember how much fun it was even walking to the bridge down Granville in about 2015 and the vibe was awesome, lots of happy people, women and men

more recently it feels there are less women and more men converging on Halloween, etc., wish it would go back to the way it was when it felt more inviting and safer

[RedArbutus]

Admittedly I haven't been to the fireworks (as in, went to like, English Bay Beach with the crowds) since right before COVID, so perhaps a lot has changed in the last 5 years. I go to an event every year at the Maritime Museum and that's exclusively where I've been taking them in, so perhaps I don't have the best perspective.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Sat by the jetty in front of the deck party (or the parking lot to the east if it's too crowded) for a decade; I can guarantee that Vanier's still Vanier.

[madog222]

The Vancouver Whitecaps and B.C. government officials are set to meet with several local First Nations leaders on Wednesday, Postmedia has learned.

As first reported by Global News, the meeting is expected to be about the future of the Whitecaps at B.C. Place stadium.

...

The hope is these talks will find enough common ground and proposed stability over the next four or five years at B.C. Place that might entice one of the groups who previously expressed interest in buying the team to return to the table.

...

Revenue generation is the issue. For the first decade or so, playing at B.C. Place wasn’t a big problem for the team. They didn’t generate a ton of revenue, but they also weren’t having to spend a wild amount of money to remain in the middle of the MLS’s money table.

But since 2020 or so, that dynamic has changed. The Whitecaps are no longer mid-table in revenue and are now trailing the pack.

From Patrick Johnston, The Province https://theprovince.com/sports/soccer/ml...vernment-local-first-nations-set-to-meet

[Glow Fun City]

Hmm… MST joint bid for the Whitecaps? I like it.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by madog222

From Patrick Johnston, The Province https://theprovince.com/sports/soccer/ml...vernment-local-first-nations-set-to-meet

I wonder what land they might want handed over in return? BC Place?

[jollyburger]

Sources: Former Vancouver Canucks and Grizzlies owner Arthur Griffiths has Whitecaps interest

The Straight has heard from multiple sources that asked not to be identified that former Canucks and Grizzlies owner Arthur Griffiths has interest in being part of the next ownership group of the Whitecaps.

It’s not yet known if Griffiths is part of the group Kahlon referenced, though a source did indicate that. It’s also not known whether Griffiths could potentially pull this off.

One source said that while they had heard that Griffiths was interested, they didn’t know where the money would come from. Another said that Griffiths is working with an international group.

https://www.straight.com/city-culture/so...ies-owner-arthur-griffiths-has-whitecaps

[s211]

I received a survey asking for my opinion about how much, if any, financial support should be provided by the City, be it gifting land, tax concessions, etc. Somebody out there is gauging public opinion about government contributions.