Whitecaps MLS news

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by mcj

Wish the city would just get on with this but this doesn't seem to be in the near terms plans at all.

The City appears to have other plans, despite what Kenneth Chan would have you believe.

Also, if the Waterfront proposal was logistically impossible, this one would appear to be even more so.

The proposed stadium’s location on a podium over the rail yards, between Gastown and the Port Lands provides some significant transportation and access challenges. As illustrated in Figure 7, the stadium proposal relies on only two primary points of pedestrian access. The first is from the foot of Cambie Street where a structure will have to be built to bring attendees from street level to the podium level which is approximately 30 feet above grade.

The second entrance is through a new, enlarged opening in the Landing Building on Water Street which once again would require that attendees rise slightly to the podium elevation. The Whitecaps have suggested a third potential direct link to public transit at the Station, but the bulk of the participants are anticipated to enter through the two primary entrances.

The proposal does not include any designated areas for crowd marshalling, and relies on street space primarily on Water Street and Richards Street for marshalling and crowd dispersal. The transportation consultants hired by the Whitecaps note that street improvements would be required in order to handle the outflow of 15,000 stadium visitors, with 30,000 visitors being more of a challenge in a future expansion . Based on extensive experience with GM Place, staff conclude that street improvements alone could not handle this level of crowding and that frequent street closures would be required...

..Stadium visitors accessing the stadium by automobile would be expected to park in the existing parking stock of the downtown core and walk to the stadium. The Whitecaps have also proposed the construction of a ramp from Waterfront Road into the East stand, which would be used for access to the 116 parking spaces (for staff and players only).

Due to a lack of street frontage, there is no provision for passenger drop-off, bus drop-off or handicap access.

Truck loading would take place on the stadium’s vehicle ramp off of Waterfront Road. The trucks would then be stored in the truck and bus staging area proposed for the narrow piece of land owned by the Whitecaps north of Granville Square. (Staff note that Waterfront Road is a private road owned mostly by the Port of Vancouver and not available for general traffic.)

The emergency access to the proposed stadium for fire, police and other emergency services is suggested off the parking ramp on Waterfront Road. The parking plaza adjacent to the Landing would be for fire-fighting only as it would not provide any direct access into the stadium. There is also potential emergency access from the pedestrian entrance at the foot of Cambie Street. (The Whitecaps have suggested that the lane north of Water Street would be an access point for emergencies, but staff consider this access point to be unacceptable as it dead-ends and raises the risks of loss of equipment and life.)

The consultant’s report reveals that as currently proposed, the stadium does not meet critical code requirements for emergency exiting.

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[logan5]

A professional sports team like the Whitecaps are a huge cultural amenity that the whole city gets behind, not billionaires. An art gallery costs tax payers huge money as well, and serves far fewer people than the Whitecaps or Canucks.

[svlt]

Originally Posted by logan5

A professional sports team like the Whitecaps are a huge cultural amenity that the whole city gets behind, not billionaires. An art gallery costs tax payers huge money as well, and serves far fewer people than the Whitecaps or Canucks.

one is high brow and one is low brow. both are very much needed though. this city can, and should, be able to support far more than just the Canucks and the Lions.

[RedArbutus]

Originally Posted by logan5

A professional sports team like the Whitecaps are a huge cultural amenity that the whole city gets behind, not billionaires. An art gallery costs tax payers huge money as well, and serves far fewer people than the Whitecaps or Canucks.

Agreed that art galleries take tax payer money as well, but even the world's most vaunted art galleries aren't often more than 30 bucks to visit. Taking one's family to a Canucks game is simply not financially feasible for your median taxpayer from North Delta or Aldergrove. Taking them to the Vancouver Art Gallery? A very different experience, but certainly more affordable. I don't say this to dilute the cultural importance of local sporting teams but I think it's relevant that they're simply not on the same tier when it comes to public accessibility

[djmk]

Originally Posted by logan5

A professional sports team like the Whitecaps are a huge cultural amenity that the whole city gets behind, not billionaires. An art gallery costs tax payers huge money as well, and serves far fewer people than the Whitecaps or Canucks.

And the whitecaps are much more than a single professional sports team.

1000's have kids have played through their academies, clinics, camps, college pathways etc. It's a full ecosystem of youth players that professional hockey teams just do not do.

[Tysonbrown]

Why don't we try a GOFundMe campaign and become Whitecaps will be spectator owned.

[SpongeG]

On CKNW this morning, they reported the Aug 1 game has already sold 30,000 tickets. I wonder if it's an effect of the World Cup.

[SpongeG]

Vancouver Whitecaps pitch plan to take over BC Place operations: report
Rob Williams | Jul 14 2026, 3:41 pm

Will they stay, or will they go?

That’s a question we’ve been asking ever since the Vancouver Whitecaps were first put up for sale 19 months ago. We’re still not sure of the answer.

The Las Vegas threat 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: “They’re not going anywhere.”

...

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/whitecaps-plan-take-over-bc-place

[Migrant_Coconut]

So long as it's just management, and they don't have access to any non-Caps revenue. The last thing we need is to privatize in-all-but-name yet another public asset.

[WarrenC12]

I think the teams that bring in the fans, whether it's Lions, Whitecaps, or other events, need to get a bigger share of the revenue they generate from concessions, etc.

That *should* in theory incentivize them to keep ticket prices moderate in hopes of filling the stadium. Win win IMO.

[jollyburger]

But is there any scenario where PavCo actually makes more money with Whitecaps managing the stadium or are they basically just giving up scheduling control/revenue streams to them?

[djmk]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

But is there any scenario where PavCo actually makes more money with Whitecaps managing the stadium or are they basically just giving up scheduling control/revenue streams to them?

per that article

“My understanding is that on Friday, the Whitecaps submitted an offer to PavCo in concerning the running of BC Place,” said McColl. “They’ll take on the running of the stadium and PavCo will get a share of the revenue. The Whitecaps will control the dates.”

And its just an offer.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Wait, so we are semi-privatizing the stadium?

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

But is there any scenario where PavCo actually makes more money with Whitecaps managing the stadium or are they basically just giving up scheduling control/revenue streams to them?

And when you ask how much revenue “they” are giving up it is really “us” the taxpayer. If the Whitecaps want to own the stadium in all but name, they should pay for it.

[WBC]

Oh common, nothing to see here, it's just capitalism - as in making profits by risking other people's money...

[WarrenC12]

Safe to say that PavCo will probably make less money than they do today from Whitecaps games, but also far more than they would make it the Whitecaps played somewhere else.

And again if this helps motivate the Whitecaps to market harder and gives them more control, they could both make more money.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Safe to say that PavCo will probably make less money than they do today from Whitecaps games, but also far more than they would make it the Whitecaps played somewhere else.

And again if this helps motivate the Whitecaps to market harder and gives them more control, they could both make more money.

But PavCo have already offered to let the Whitecaps keep the money from Whitecaps games in February. "Ravi Kahlon said Tuesday that PavCo makes approximately $1 million to $1.5 million in profit each year from hosting the Major League Soccer team, and that the latest offer, which emerged from a meeting between the two sides on Monday, would return all of that revenue to the club."

Wouldn't it be odd to let the Whitecaps keep the money from BC Lions games, not to mention Monster trucks , Home Shows or Taylor Swift concerts?

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Changing City

But PavCo have already offered to let the Whitecaps keep the money from Whitecaps games in February. "Ravi Kahlon said Tuesday that PavCo makes approximately $1 million to $1.5 million in profit each year from hosting the Major League Soccer team, and that the latest offer, which emerged from a meeting between the two sides on Monday, would return all of that revenue to the club."

Wouldn't it be odd to let the Whitecaps keep the money from BC Lions games, not to mention Monster trucks , Home Shows or Taylor Swift concerts?

Nobody says they are doing that.

[mcj]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I think the teams that bring in the fans, whether it's Lions, Whitecaps, or other events, need to get a bigger share of the revenue they generate from concessions, etc.

That *should* in theory incentivize them to keep ticket prices moderate in hopes of filling the stadium. Win win IMO.

What planet are you living on where a business lowers prices?

They'll charge the maximum they can and if that means the stadium is 50% full but tickets are 150% higher in price, they've still made more money.

Only way we'd actually see lower ticket prices is if people stopped going period. Which would likely mean a move out of Vancouver before it would lower ticket prices.

[djmk]

Originally Posted by mcj

What planet are you living on where a business lowers prices?

They'll charge the maximum they can and if that means the stadium is 50% full but tickets are 150% higher in price, they've still made more money.

Only way we'd actually see lower ticket prices is if people stopped going period. Which would likely mean a move out of Vancouver before it would lower ticket prices.

part of the ticket price you are paying now does not go to the whitecaps