Whitecaps MLS news

[logan5]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

I doubt there's enough money in it for him if they want anything close to $400 milllion USD for the team and the amount of revenue the Whitecaps brings in.

If he builds his own stadium, which is something the Whitecaps need if they want to be an upper echelon team, revenues increase and so does the value of the team. Plus the value of the franchise will go up. The current owner made a killing off of the valuation increase.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by logan5

If he builds his own stadium, which is something the Whitecaps need if they want to be an upper echelon team, revenues increase and so does the value of the team. Plus the value of the franchise will go up. The current owner made a killing off of the valuation increase.

Big IF. I think that might be part of the reason the current group is selling.

[svlt]

Originally Posted by logan5

I think Aquilini will buy the team.

I believe he's come out and said he wasn't interested unfortunately

[jollyburger]

Valuation jumps are meaningless if no one wants the team. If the MLS comes out and says they won't allow the team to move it will even drop the selling price even further.

[madog222]

Their attendance numbers significantly increased this year, I wonder how much that has affected these numbers.

Forbes earlier this year estimated the team's value at US$420 million, with an estimated US$25 million in 2023 revenue, leading to a US$14 million operating loss that same year. That valuation ranked the team No. 28 out of 29 MLS teams.

https://www.biv.com/news/entertainment-media-sports/vancouver-whitecaps-seek-new-ownership-9953771

[djmk]

Originally Posted by madog222

Their attendance numbers significantly increased this year, I wonder how much that has affected these numbers.

https://www.biv.com/news/entertainment-media-sports/vancouver-whitecaps-seek-new-ownership-9953771

Attendance was up because more season tickets were sold. And more season tickets were sold because it was the best way to secure seats to see Messi.

the 2025 season will be nothing like 2024

[madog222]

Very good point, I completely forgot about the mania over Messi this year.

[jollyburger]

They said there isn't a lot of expansion planned so all the easy expansion money is off the table for the time being as well.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/vancouve...ners-what-happens-next-/view/news/447438

It was $215 million in 2018

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes_list_of_the_most_valuable_MLS_clubs

TV viewership seems to be down as well.

[jollyburger]

I wonder how much PavCo will want from them.

It should also be pointed out that Bob Mackin of The Breaker News found out through a Freedom Of Information Act in August 2021 the Whitecaps’ lease with B.C. Place and he reported then that it maxes out this coming year at a $325,000, or somewhere in the neighbourhood of $16,250 per game, depending on their schedule.

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The lease with B.C. Place is up after this season. Schuster was asked Friday about a possible ticket revenue split on the new deal on Friday and neatly danced around it, as you would expect.

“We have started the conversations one, two months ago, and it’s impossible to say a percentage, because this deal is so complex,” Schuster said. “One reality is this lease is old — 14 years old right now. We all have agreed that this deal is a little bit fallen out of time, and that the new format has to look different and has to be adjusted to the realities of today.

“This deal is super complex on certain categories in the stadium and levels and fees. It wouldn’t be helpful at all to start to dip into certain numbers.”

He went on to joke about the current deal already being public because of the FOI request, and suggested that others could take a crack at looking it up in that regard.

“If somebody wants to do this work and wants to read the truth … good luck and very welcome,” he said.

https://vancouversun.com/sports/vancouve...wcm/4fd8b1a6-ab70-44cb-b099-65fa59a3c59b

[jollyburger]

Whitecaps owners say they're in talks to build new stadium on PNE fairgrounds

The owners of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC say they are in discussions with the City of Vancouver about the possibility of building a soccer stadium on city property at the PNE fairgrounds.

A statement from the owners — Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett and Steve Nash — says building such a stadium would help with their business.

"The club's ownership has always been clear on their goal of constructing a purpose-built stadium and the importance of a suitable venue to both fan experience and financial performance for any professional sports franchise," the statement reads.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/whitecaps-stadium-talks-pne-1.7502920

[djmk]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/whitecaps-stadium-talks-pne-1.7502920

as a diehard Cap's fan since 1983, i'm not sure what to think of this. It's nice that they are investing in the city however, BC Place has so much going for it.

I really hope i'm not standing in the rain in February, or have to fight for parking, or have to stand in line for the nearest restaurant which is like a KM away.

or maybe the stadium and this new purple line will be built together!

[logan5]

The Whitecaps are a 2nd tier team being in BC Place. They need their own stadium. Burnaby was also offering a pretty good deal to build a stadium at Swangard. It's a better location than the PNE, as it is close to a Skytrain station, and more centrally located.

[seamusmcduff]

How does this fit in with them trying to sell the team? It seems a bit weird trying to coordinate a new stadium while also trying to offload the team

[jollyburger]

Probably makes the team more attractive if they have their own stadium in place and all the revenue that brings in versus leasing a space and sharing revenue.

[Henbo]

Originally Posted by djmk

as a diehard Cap's fan since 1983, i'm not sure what to think of this. It's nice that they are investing in the city however, BC Place has so much going for it.

I really hope i'm not standing in the rain in February, or have to fight for parking, or have to stand in line for the nearest restaurant which is like a KM away.

or maybe the stadium and this new purple line will be built together!

Big agree (except for the purple line, which I doubt we'll see any time soon)

[Tysonbrown]

I'm sorry...did we not just spend MILLIONS on BC Place post olympics and isn't FIFA playing in that stadium next year? WTF?!!!

[madog222]

The current owners want to have an approved plan for a new stadium as part of their offer to sell the team.

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/natio...o-whitecaps-sale-teams-ceo-says-10483747

[MIPS]

Originally Posted by Tysonbrown

I'm sorry...did we not just spend MILLIONS on BC Place post olympics and isn't FIFA playing in that stadium next year? WTF?!!!

Perhaps if the Whitecaps didn't somehow manage to suck even worse than the Canucks it could be considered.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Remind me why Swangard isn't in the running? At least that one's still SkyTrain-accessible.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Remind me why Swangard isn't in the running? At least that one's still SkyTrain-accessible.

The 5,000 seat capacity, lack of infrastructure... It would need to be completely rebuilt.