Major League Soccer has begun exploring the possible relocation of the Vancouver Whitecaps, with a subcommittee of owners meeting earlier this month to discuss potential markets.
The league said it "will evaluate all options" for the future of the Canadian team, including moving out of the city.
"It's reaching a critical point," MLS commissioner Don Garber said Tuesday during a meeting with the Associated Press Sports Editors in New York.
Garber called the situation at BC Place untenable, citing strict schedule restrictions from the government entity that owns and operates the building and an inability to add premium seating.
A source told ESPN that investment groups from Las Vegas and Phoenix have expressed strong interest in acquiring and then moving the team. This would involve an unspecified relocation fee. San Diego FC paid MLS a $500 million expansion fee when it joined the league last year. Any relocation would have to be approved by the owners.
Garber confirmed that Las Vegas could be an option if Vancouver relocates, saying a group from Las Vegas had submitted an application for an MLS team.
All of this is taking place despite considerable on-field success by the team. Last year, the Whitecaps were beaten finalists in both the Concacaf Champions Cup and MLS Cup. Similar to the movement in 2018 that kept the Columbus Crew from being relocated, "Save the Caps" signs have been seen at recent matches
"The Whitecaps' ownership group has played a significant role in growing the game in Vancouver and across Canada," an MLS spokesperson said in a statement to ESPN.
However, stadium economics, scheduling restrictions, and a lack of government and corporate support have created ongoing structural challenges that make it difficult to establish a viable path forward for the club.
"We remain focused on supporting the club in identifying a sustainable long-term solution, and our preference is to find a path that allows the Whitecaps to continue to grow and succeed in Vancouver. At the same time, we have a responsibility to ensure the long-term health of the league and its clubs, and we will evaluate all options, including interest that has been expressed in the club from other markets and investor groups," the statement added.
The Whitecaps have been for sale since December 2024, but have been unable to attract a buyer willing to keep the club in Vancouver.
The team currently plays at BC Place, and has since agreed on a new lease with Crown corporation Pavco. However, the club has stated that while the terms were improved, it's still not enough to make the Whitecaps economically viable.
British Columbia's government said Tuesday it is working with the Whitecaps to help the team lower costs and generate more revenue at BC Place, but it won't be buying the team to prevent it from moving cities.
Ravi Kahlon, B.C.'s minister of jobs and economic growth, said the team is now using the stadium at no cost, and any breaks that the team received this year could be extended for another year.
The City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Whitecaps announced in December 2025 that they had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the potential development of a new stadium and entertainment district.
The MOU, which will last until the end of 2026, involves a potential stadium site at Hastings Park, and will see the two sides negotiate terms for a ground lease, including the stadium's design, financial terms and community benefits for the proposed development. The possibility of a new stadium is still years away, however.
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."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.