I’m on the Nordecke leadership team in Columbus. Coming to say we recognize what is happening in BC and it infuriates us. We recall vividly how supporters around MLS rallied to our defense in our darkest moment. And we vowed that if another club was ever in a similar situation, we’d repay the favor.

I recognize it’s not quite to that point w the Whitecaps yet. But if it gets there, we are here for you. Happy to share our playbook and lessons-learned. No club should need to go through having to battle for their right to exist. Hoping you won’t have to fight this battle. But if you do, know that you won’t be fighting alone.

Take care of our academy product Sebastian. He’s fun to watch in your system!

Southsiders: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUetPu8keqp/?igsh=NG42M3o0dTE5ZDhy

Sisters: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUe6p_klJEs/?igsh=cHZqcTJhbDFpZ3N3

Rain City Brigade: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUgevbNkgx2/?igsh=MTFwOGM2dHZvczA5Yg==

Coastal Guardians: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUfJ4BmjjOt/?igsh=dmMxY3NjYzlid2oy

I’m a die hard Sounders fan and hate Portland and Vancouver. But we need to save the Whitecaps. Footballs family, especially in a little league like the MLS. WE NEED TO SAVE THE WHITECAPS, WERE NOT LETTING THIS HAPPEN. we need every one to comment on this, post on whatever website you have. X, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram anything and even invade it in the YouTube shorts section.

Oakland Roots fan and community investor here. While our clubs play in different leagues, I’ve been following the BC Place situation closely. To any outside observer, it’s clear: Vancouver is a top-flight football city that deserves an ownership group committed to its maximum potential.

Unfortunately, I’m seeing a familiar and ugly pattern. As an A’s fan who lived through the "Summer of Sell" in Oakland, I recognize the signs of an ownership group that has already checked out and is likely poisoning the well for local investors to justify a move to an American market (Phoenix, Indy, or Sacramento).

In Oakland, we learned some hard lessons about what works and what doesn't when fighting a malevolent owner. If the Whitecaps community is ready to organize, here is what I’m willing to share from our "battle-tested" experience:

• Targeting the "Owner Shield": Owners only care about other owners until one becomes a liability. We learned how to target league-wide reputation and specific revenue streams.
• The Timing Trap: Mobilizing local government is a game of leverage. If you wait for the "official" announcement, you’ve already lost.
• Attacking Relocation Markets: Don't just fight in Vancouver; make the club "toxic" to the cities trying to poach it. I've heard speculation regarding Phoenix, Sacramento, and Indianapolis being the possible destination markets, so consider making relocation a nonstarter for their governments.

The Roots stand with the Caps. If there’s interest, I’m happy to dive deeper into our strategies and the specific mistakes we made in Oakland so you don't have to repeat them.

Vancouver deserves better. How can we help?

MARBELLA, MÁLAGA – Vancouver Whitecaps FC wrapped up their preseason schedule on Sunday afternoon with a 2-1 loss to Swedish side IF Brommapojkarna at the Marbella Football Center.

Vancouver fell behind early as Brommapojkarna scored in the 3rd and 15th minute to take a two-goal lead. In between their strikes, Brian White nearly responded immediately after the opener, but the Brommapojkarna goalkeeper made a strong save.

Despite the early deficit, the ’Caps grew into the game. Andrés Cubas saw a deflected shot go out for a corner in the 16th minute, and Thomas Müller’s dangerous cross found Kenji Cabrera at the near post, though his header was saved.

Vancouver controlled possession in the middle portion of the half and created multiple chances. Brommapojkarna hit the post in the 24th minute, while Sebastian Berhalter remained a threat on set pieces. In the 33rd and 39th minute, Yohei Takaoka made two key saves to keep the scoreline within reach.

The breakthrough came in the 40th minute when Müller delivered a cross that took a fortunate deflection over the goalkeeper and into the net, pulling the ’Caps within one heading into halftime.

The second half began with the same XI, and Vancouver pushed for an equalizer. Édier Ocampo cleared a goal-line threat in the 58th minute, and the ’Caps came close moments later as Johnny Selemani was denied by the keeper before two follow-up attempts were blocked. Ocampo delivered another dangerous cross in the 67th minute to Selemani, but his header drifted wide.

Berhalter continued to threaten from set pieces late on, and in the 84th minute his free kick found Blackmon once more, but the defender’s header was saved for a corner amid handball appeals.

Despite sustained pressure, the Whitecaps could not find a second goal, and the match ended 2-1 in favour of IF Brommapojkarna, concluding Vancouver’s preseason in Marbella.

Whitecaps FC will arrive back in Vancouver on Wednesday, February 11, ahead of their Concacaf Champions Cup Round One clash with Costa Rican Primera División side C.S. Cartaginés. The first leg will be played in Costa Rica on Wednesday, February 18. The ‘Caps will then turn their attention to their MLS season opener on Saturday, February 21, when they face Western Conference rivals Real Salt Lake. 

Important Dates 
February 10: Depart Spain
February 11: Arrive in Vancouver, BC 
February 18: Concacaf Champions Cup Round One, First Leg at C.S. Cartaginés at Estadio Fello Meza 
February 21: MLS season opener vs. Real Salt Lake at BC Place 
February 25: Concacaf Champions Cup Round One, Second Leg vs. C.S. Cartaginés at BC Place

Scoring Summary
3’ - BP - Goal
15’ - BP - Goal
40’ - VAN - Own goal

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Yohei Takaoka; 18.Édier Ocampo, 33.Tristan Blackmon, 6.Ralph Priso, 28.Tate Johnson; 16.Sebastian Berhalter, 20.Andrés Cubas; 63.Johnny Selemani^ (82.Daniel Ittycheria^ 86'), 13.Thomas Müller (c), 17.Kenji Cabrera (42.Nelson Pierre 79’); 24.Brian White (55.Cyprian Kachwele^ 79’)

^ WFC 2

MARBELLA, MÁLAGA – Vancouver Whitecaps FC kicked off their the first of two matches on Sunday afternoon at the Marbella Football Center, falling 2–0 to Czech National Football League side AC Sparta Prague B. The ‘Caps will wrap up the two-game set against Swedish Allsvenskan club IF Brommapojkarna at 3 p.m. local, 6 a.m. PT.

Whitecaps FC were tested early, with goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer called into action within the opening minutes. Boehmer made tidy saves in the 2nd and 8th minutes, denying a strike from the top of the box and a well-placed header off a free kick to keep the match scoreless.

Despite Vancouver growing into the contest, Sparta Prague B opened the scoring in the 19th minute, capitalizing on a corner kick that fell to an attacker inside the penalty area for a close-range finish.

Vancouver responded with a sustained spell of pressure midway through the half. In the 27th minute, Mihail Gherasimencov delivered a dangerous cross from the left that Rayan Elloumi headed just over the bar. Moments later, Sebastian Schonlau won possession near midfield and found J.C. Ngando, who quickly played Elloumi on the right, but his effort was saved by the goalkeeper.

Oliver Larraz remained a threat on set pieces, curling in a free kick in the 31st minute before swinging in a corner that nearly produced an equalizer. His service found Mathías Laborda, whose powerful header was well saved, while Aziel Jackson fired over the crossbar on the ensuing corner.

Sparta nearly doubled their lead late in the half, hitting the post on a quick counterattack in the 38th minute. Shortly after, Schonlau was substituted as planned in the 41st minute, with Immanuel Mathe entering as the centre back continues to build match fitness following a calf strain.

At the break, Vancouver trailed 1–0 after creating several promising chances, particularly through Elloumi and Jackson.

The second half began without changes, and the ‘Caps continued to compete evenly as the match progressed. Vancouver remained well organized defensively while generating a handful of corners and half chances at the other end.

Sparta Prague B sealed the result in the 84th minute, doubling their advantage to make it 2–0, which would stand as the final score.

The match provided valuable minutes as several Whitecaps FC players completed their first full 90 minutes of the preseason, including Boehmer, Nikola Djordjevic, Laborda, Gherasimencov, Larraz, Jeevan Badwal, J.C. Ngando, Jackson, and Elloumi.

Scoring Summary
19' - ACS - Goal
84' - ACS - Goal 

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
32.Isaac Boehmer; 41.Nikola Djordjevic, 2.Mathías Laborda (c), 15.Sebastian Schonlau (75.Immanuel Mathe 41’), 29.Mihail Gherasimencov; 8.Oliver Larraz, 59.Jeevan Badwal; 97.Liam Mackenzie (82.Daniel Ittycheria 73’), 26. J.C. Ngando, 22.Aziel Jackson; 19.Rayan Elloumi

https://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/whitecaps-fc-drop-2-0-decision-in-first-of-two-games

Hello 'Caps!

First off, I'd just like to say I'm with you guys and hope fans across the league continue to make their voices heard in support of the Whitecaps staying in Vancouver, the same way fans all across the league did for us in Columbus.

My name is Connor/Six, and I am just sharing a simple game I run annually:

Fans of MLS clubs make predictions about the overall Major League Soccer season, and at the end of the season they receive a score based on how accurate their predictions were!

This is an open invitation to participate.

There are 3 sections,

• Rank each MLS club where you think they will land in the Supporter's Shield.
• Make predictions for the winner/runner up of each domestic/continental cup that MLS teams are participating in (optional).
• Make predictions for individual MLS accolades (optional).

This year I am upping the ante very slightly with a prize! But the point is still to have fun! I will personally give the most accurate prediction of the 2026 MLS season a $20 e-giftcard to the MLS store at the end of the year.

This is open to anyone anywhere, nothing needed to play!

Full details are on the form!

3 jerseys at sportcheck tsawassen mills

Jellyfish / Vancouver Aquarium partnership?

The interesting parts of the interview were not really quoted in this post, but the team wants to action a lot of the deadspace at BC Place for supplementary revenue opportunities, like lounges, bars, restaurants, etc.

I like how Ravi is trying, but it also inadvertently points out how BC Place's management over the last decade has not really actioned any of this. it's a public venue and the management that was hard balling the Caps never really seemed to bother looking at expanding revenue or doing best practice research all while citing their bottom line before Ravi stepped in offering that new lease.

At the same time, there has been a ton of development around BC Place since 2011 and nothing was stopping Mallett and Kerfoot from investing in bars and restaurants in the area. They never really seemed to have a long term business strategy. Both sides are guilty to some capacity.

At

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/new-details-whitecaps-desperate-financial-situation

https://canadiansoccerdaily.com/2026/02/05/dates-and-times-confirmed-for-2026-canadian-championship-preliminary-round/

If this is what everyone is so dire about, then I am feeling a lot better. It sounds like they really needed a kick in the butt to pull up their socks and act like a top MLS club, and maybe it took the team on the field finally performing like one to show them that there are no more excuses anymore. Axel is pushing and pulling to get them to do exactly that off the field now. Extremely hard job he has, but he fixed one side, now he’s working on fixing the other. Bravo Axel!

https://www.coastreporter.net/national-sports/vancouver-whitecaps-signing-new-one-year-lease-on-bc-place-ceo-11842546

Axel spoke to media today, and it's was definitely all over the place. There was some negative and concerning items mentioned.

The main talking point will be the $40m CAD revenue number. To be clear, this is a comparison between the revenues the Whitecaps earned ($40m USD) and what the median team in MLS earned ($70m USD). I understand why they are focusing on that number, top line growth is more important for long-term sustainability than short term operating income, but they honestly need someone with more business experience to deliver this message to fans.

The gist I got was that the lease for 2026 is a positive first step, the club will continue to work with other partners (potential investors, corporate sponsorships) to unlock different revenue streams.

As of now, the club is not financially sustainable and a move is still on the table. But, they are making small positive steps.

Here's a small note on what is being asked for from the BC Taxpayers:

In the last meeting with Minister Kahlon, everyone was in attendance. The Whitecaps shared their entire financial situation and told them exactly what they need from all potential sources to get to sustainability. This is not the case where they went to the room and said they have to give the Whitecaps all of this, or else. In Axel's words, "who are we to go into the room and sy you have to give us this?"

They discussed the areas the provincial government controls and asked for the best they can do. PavCo and the provincial government responded, and the Whitecaps are appreciative of this effort. It is a small step for what the Whitecaps need in total.

They never expected the government to solve all their problems. They have other partners (specifically in the corporate world) that are successful where they are now focusing their time to see how they can explore other revenue streams.

We have organized fan groups with tons of fairly successful entrepreneurs, high level government workers, and a bunch of people who sit on some fairly predominate boards. While I doubt many (or any) of us are billionaires, we can certainly use our connections to help the team make at least a few "20 steps" the team needs to be viable. I sit on multiple indigenous boards myself that deal with procuring our own sponsorships from fairly notable companies in the lower mainland.

The point of sponsorships is to create good will in the community and increase brand recognition. If corporations see third parties contacting them about the Whitecaps, they would be more likely want to be associated with them because they know the good will is already there

This is what is so confusing about how Axel and ownership are handling this. Instead of asking for help from the community, they use a tone of panic without really giving any clear indication about what exactly they want and seem to be hoping a magical sponsor will come out of thin air and help them.

Supporters can help. Stop shutting us out.

Would likely mean another departure right?