Investment Group Seeks to Purchase and Relocate Vancouver Whitecaps to Las Vegas

An investment group has come forward to buy the Vancouver Whitecaps and relocate the Major League Soccer club to Las Vegas.

The group, led by Grant Gustavson, grandson of B. Wayne Hughes, founder of Public Storage, has emerged as a potential buyer nearly 16 months after the Whitecaps were put up for sale. This marks the first public indication of interest in the team.

“In the coming weeks and months, we look forward to the opportunity to share more, however, out of respect for the league’s deliberations and community stakeholders, we are refraining from sharing details of our proposal,” Gustavson said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to work for a positive outcome for the game, the fans, the league and Las Vegas.”

Whitecaps Future

Major League Soccer stated it would “evaluate all options” for the Whitecaps’ future, including a potential relocation. The team currently plays at BC Place, which is set to host seven matches during this summer’s World Cup. However, the league has indicated that the current lease situation is untenable and shows a preference for a soccer-specific stadium.

“It’s reaching a critical point,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. The British Columbia government has reported it is collaborating with the Whitecaps to help lower operational costs and increase revenue at BC Place, but it will not purchase the team to prevent a move.

Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s minister of jobs and economic growth, mentioned that the team currently uses the stadium at no cost, with potential for extending any breaks received this year for another term.

“Look, I think we should all be concerned,” Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said after a gathering at the Vancouver Convention Center. “That concern predates Vegas coming into the picture. We’ve been working on this for more than a year. We can’t control what other groups interested in our team do. All we can do is control our destiny.”