Way back in the late 70s, I remember being downtown, celebrating the original version of the White Caps (in the North America Soccer League) winning the Soccer Bowl championship.
“White is the colour; soccer is the game … ” thousands sang in unison.
But the truth is neither I … nor I dare say many of those celebrating OUR team … had ever been to a Whitecaps game! And most of us probably haven’t been to one of their Major League Soccer matches either … or bought any Whitecaps paraphernalia (jerseys, hats, jackets) either.
Yet almost none of us want to see the team leave Vancouver … especially to be snapped up by a billionaire American and moved to Las Vegas!
And the campaign to keep the Whitecaps here has taken up by not only their fans (old and new), but the bar and restaurant owners who profited from them, by the local media and, of course, by politicians at every level of government … reading the crowd.
But let’s keep it real.
The Whitecaps are a BUSINESS, with a reported franchise value that now tops $450 million (US) … up from $30 million just years ago.
With every level of government so short of funds they can’t even meet essential service levels (health, education, social services, mental treatment programs, public safety, transit) I don’t think a penny of public funds should be PAID out to the Whitecaps to get them to stay here!
Yes, maybe there can be a deal to award the team a better share of profits from food and beverage sales, parking fees, etc. … but NO taxpayers’ CASH to try and compete with any private buyer who wants to take over/move the franchise!
After all, the team isn’t exactly broke.
This is from AI:
“According to 2025 data from Capology and Statista, Ryan Gould is the highest-paid Vancouver Whitecaps player, earning a guaranteed compensation of roughly \(\$3.675\) million. Other top earners include Andrés Cubas (\(\approx\$1.15\)M), Mathías Laborda (\(\approx\$1.04\)M), and Brian White (\(\approx\$1\)M). The club’s total 2025 payroll is approximately \(\$15.7\) million, positioning them in the middle-to-lower end of MLS spending.”
Middle to lower end???
Are there really people who believe Vancouver and BC taxpayers should shell out corporate welfare to this or ANY privately-owned sports team and their millionaire owners?
They must have FIFA Fever!
That’s the hallucigenic illness that afflicted City, Provincial politicians and convinced them to spend almost A BILLION DOLLARS of public funds (some believe even more!) for Vancouver to host seven FIFA World Cup games.
The BC government says the games will generate a $1.7 Billion boost to the economy.
Really?
Well, why don’t all those companies cashing in on FIFA pick up the costs … instead of once more shaking down the taxpayers ???
And they can use the projected FIFA “surplus” to buy up the Whitecaps … and keep them here!
Harv Oberfeld
Buy Canadian!
(Follow @harveyoberfeld on “X” for FREE First Alerts to new postings on this Blog.)
I am in total agreement on this one Harvey. Vancouver just doesn’t have enough fans to cover the associated expenses associated with some professional sports teams. Remember the Grizzlies?
In addition to the millionaire owners we can add the players of the NFL, NBA, FIFA, NHL etc. who now command exorbitant salaries.
Two weeks ago my wife and I thought of taking in a Vancouver Canadians ball game at Nat Bailey stadium just for something new and different to do. I checked the ticket prices for an afternoon game. $48.00 per person, plus taxes. I didn’t check the costs of parking, not to mention the concession stands. The initial costs were already over $100.00 so I’m guessing a final tally would have been around $125.00, at least.
Sorry to sound like a cheapskate, and no offence to the Vancouver Canadians, but no thanks. We’re retired and certainly not millionaires.
I wonder if they are subsidised by the Blue Jays organisation? (I cannot recall their name)
(Response; You’re not a cheapskate: just an ordinary citizen who doesn’t get corporate gifts of tickets to games or make a huge salary that allows you to spend a small fortune to attend a game (or concert!) these days after paying your taxes, rent or mortgage, Hydro, groceries, cable, Internet, phone, clothing, car, gas, ICBC or transit pass! Even McDonald’s is now costly if you have a couple of kids. So the idea of politicians at any level spending taxpayers’ dollars to bribe professional sports teams (businesses) to stay is not acceptable at this time in this economy. What the teams should do is make tickets cheaper …to sell a lot more, get more fans in all those empty seats, increase parking and concession revenues and even sell more team regalia etc. Ho)
I’m not a soccer fan, but they need money …how about asking the Natives !!
(Response: Hmm! I wonder if under Eby and DRIPA, the Squamish or Musqueam Bands could soon end up as BC Place landlords! Ho)