VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — World Cup host Vancouver risks losing its Major League Soccer club to another city.
MLS said late Monday it “will evaluate all options” for the future of the Vancouver Whitecaps including moving out of the city. The club was put on sale 16 months ago by an ownership group that includes former NBA star Steve Nash.
Uncertainty around the team is fueled by limited revenue options and a short-term lease at B.C. Place stadium that will host seven World Cup games in June and July, include Canada playing Qatar and Switzerland.
FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani, who is from Vancouver, said last year losing an MLS club “on the back of the World Cup would be a capital crime, in my opinion.”
Fans holding “Save The Caps” placards protested on Saturday at the team’s last home game ahead of the stadium being taken over for the World Cup. The attendance was more than 27,000.
In a statement late Monday, the Whitecaps said it had “serious conversations with more than 100 parties and, to date, no viable offer has emerged that would keep the club here.”
“The club has faced well-documented structural challenges around stadium economics, venue access, and revenue limitations that have made it difficult to attract buyers committed to keeping the team in Vancouver.”
A franchise fee that cost tens of millions of dollars to enter MLS 15 years ago is now likely worth hundreds of millions.
A team that features German great Thomas Müller reached the MLS Cup final last year, losing against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami 3-1.
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