Major League Soccer team Vancouver Whitecaps has confirmed that it is in talks with the City of Vancouver over the construction of a new stadium at the PNE fairgrounds site.
The Whitecaps currently play at the 54,500-seat BC Place (pictured), which is also used by Canadian Football League team BC Lions. The stadium is owned by BC Pavilion Corporation, which leases the venue to the Whitecaps.
The Whitecaps released a statement over the weekend confirming that talks were underway with the City of Vancouver regarding a new stadium. The PNE fairgrounds site housed the former Empire Stadium, which was demolished in 1993.
“The club’s ownership has always been clear on their goal of constructing a purpose-built stadium and the importance of a suitable venue to both fan experience and financial performance for any professional sports franchise,” the statement said. “We look forward to continuing our constructive engagement with the city and appreciate the city’s continued support for Vancouver’s thriving soccer community.”
The Whitecaps debuted in MLS in 2011, with the team spending its first season at Empire Field, a temporary stadium on the site of the old Empire Stadium. The venue was used by the Whitecaps and the Lions, and is now occupied by grassroots pitches.
The Whitecaps have not disclosed any details regarding the potential capacity of a new stadium, nor was any information provided on the timeline for the project or how much a new venue may cost.
The news comes after the Whitecaps ownership group, which includes Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett and Steve Nash, announced in December that a process to sell the club had been initiated.
Speaking to Canadian broadcaster CBC on Saturday, Axel Schuster, the Whitecaps’ chief executive and sporting director, said: “We are only working on one plan, one goal, and this is to keep the club in Vancouver and to find a very good setup for the future for this club in Vancouver.
“The ownership group hasn’t given up on the club, and the ownership group isn’t running away. They have the biggest interest that this club stays here, finds a successful setup, [and] that we find the next ownership group.”
The Whitecaps have qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs in three of the past four seasons. The team ranks seventh in MLS for league attendance, with season ticket membership having doubled over the past two seasons.
