Vancouver business leaders seek solution to stop Whitecaps from moving - BERITAJA

The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade has issued an unfastened missive calling connected businesses to help support the Vancouver Whitecaps from moving out of the city.

The statement says hundreds of businesses person signed on, pledging to explore sponsorships, partnerships and summons programs aimed astatine addressing the Major League Soccer club’s gross challenges.

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

The Las Vegas 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 son of billionaire investor Tamara Gustavson.

The nine has cited gross limitations astatine the provincially owned B.C. Place Stadium arsenic a hurdle successful attracting a section buyer.

“For much than 50 years, the Vancouver Whitecaps have been a pillar of our community, and the business community is sending a clear message: we want them to stay,” said Bridgitte Anderson, CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.

Premier David Eby is scheduled to meet this week pinch representatives from the Whitecaps, MLS, the City of Vancouver and section First Nations to discuss keeping the squad in Vancouver.

Eby said Tuesday he does not judge a determination has already been made to relocate the Whitecaps to Las Vegas.

“If this is already decided, if the hole is successful and it’s going to Vegas, past conscionable beryllium clear pinch us,” he said.

“But if not, past this array is simply a reflection of our willingness to bring together those cardinal partners to be imaginative and to find that solution.”

B.C. Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon said past week that a section ownership group had approached the state about a imaginable bid for the nine and appeared superior about keeping the squad in Vancouver.

Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster has said much than 30 imaginable buyers person reviewed the club’s books since the squad was put up for sale, but nary person been willing successful operating the franchise in Vancouver under the current business model.

The board of trade says the shot nine brings hundreds of thousands of fans downtown each play and generates tens of millions of dollars successful economical activity for section businesses, supporting the hospitality, unit and tourism sectors.

The uncertainty about the Whitecaps comes weeks before Vancouver is set to host 7 FIFA World Cup matches astatine B.C. Place adjacent month.