Whitecaps owners putting MLS club up for sale
Vancouver Whitecaps MLS Team Put Up for Sale by Ownership Group
The owners of the Vancouver Whitecaps have made the decision to put the Major League Soccer team up for sale. The current ownership group, consisting of Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett, and Steve Nash, announced this news in a statement on Friday. The decision to sell the team comes after careful reflection on what is needed to ensure its continued growth and success.
In their statement, the ownership group expressed the need for an owner with the platform, resources, and ambition to enhance the club’s ability to compete at the highest levels of MLS and help the team realize its significant potential. While no asking price has been publicly disclosed, Goldman Sachs has been enlisted to advise on sale and transition options.
MLS expansion clubs have paid significant fees to join the league in the past. For instance, San Diego FC reportedly paid a US$500 million expansion fee to join, while Toronto paid $10 million in 2007, and Vancouver paid $40 million to join four years later.
MLS commissioner Don Garber acknowledged the contributions of the current ownership group to the Whitecaps, stating, “The Vancouver Whitecaps would not be where they are today without the vision and commitment of this exceptional ownership group.” He also expressed gratitude for their contributions and looked forward to working with them to identify new ownership for the club.
The Vancouver Whitecaps finished the 2024 season with a 13-13-8 record and made it to the playoffs, defeating the Portland Timbers in a wild-card game before being eliminated by Los Angeles FC in a three-game first-round matchup. The team recently parted ways with head coach Vanni Sartini.
Originally founded as a North American Soccer League team in 1974, the Whitecaps transitioned to MLS in 2011 under the ownership of Greg Kerfoot, who bought the club in 2002. The club has seen both successes and challenges throughout its MLS tenure, winning the Canadian Championship title three years in a row but struggling in the post-season.
In recent years, the Whitecaps faced a scandal involving allegations of sexual assault by a former coach of the women’s team. Despite these challenges, the club has produced talented players like Alphonso Davies, who joined the Whitecaps academy and later made a name for himself in MLS before being transferred to Bayern Munich in 2018.
Greg Kerfoot, speaking on behalf of the ownership group, expressed pride in the growth of the Whitecaps and the soccer community in Vancouver, emphasizing the club’s impact on the local soccer scene. He believes that the future of the Vancouver Whitecaps is bright and filled with potential.
This report, originally published by The Canadian Press on December 13, 2024, highlights the ongoing developments surrounding the sale of the Vancouver Whitecaps MLS team.
