City, B.C., First Nations in push to keep Whitecaps in Vancouver ‘for generations’ - BERITAJA

The City of Vancouver, the B.C. government, First Nations and the Crown corp that owns BC Place opportunity they are moving pinch “private partners” to support the Whitecaps Major League Soccer team successful the city.

The group said successful a associated connection Thursday that they are besides moving connected improving the “game-day economical model” astatine the stadium, but it did not place the backstage investors.

It besides said they were advancing activity connected a imaginable caller stadium and exploring further sponsorship opportunities.

“This associated connection demonstrates a unified committedness from each partners to support the Whitecaps successful Vancouver for generations to come,” they said.

The group, which includes the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations and stadium institution PavCo, said it was moving pinch the national government, though it was not listed among those issuing the statement.

“We are doing everything we could to support the Whitecaps here, and we are committed to building a semipermanent solution that reflects the scale, ambition and world early of this city,” the group’s connection said.

The Whitecaps did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.

The Whitecaps squad has been up for waste since December 2024, and an investor group precocious submitted a bid to MLS seeking to bargain the nine and move it to Las Vegas.

That bid is led by businessman Grant Gustavson and includes plans for a privately financed soccer-specific stadium successful Nevada.

Gustavson is the grandson of Public Storage co-founder B. Wayne Hughes and the boy of billionaire investor Tamara Gustavson.

The nine has cited gross limitations astatine BC Place arsenic a hurdle successful attracting a section buyer.

British Columbia Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon said past week that the authorities had been approached by a section group that wanted to bargain the Vancouver Whitecaps, but he did not place the group.

The curate said successful a connection connected societal media connected Thursday that he appreciated the partners coming together to support the Whitecaps successful the metropolis and the groups are aligned connected a way forward.