In a statement shared Friday, the ownership group announced it had started the “process to sell the club.”
The Vancouver Whitecaps FC is up for sale.
In a statement shared Friday, the ownership group announced it had started the process to sell the club.
The Whitecaps are owned by Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett and Steve Nash.
“This decision comes after careful consideration of the club’s journey and reflection on what is required to ensure its continued growth and success,” the statement read.
The statement describes the club’s growth “to become a staple of MLS,” ranking seventh in league attendance and doubling season ticket memberships over the past two years. The owners also cited the Whitecaps’ performance, reaching the MLS Cup Playoffs in three of the past four seasons.
“The current ownership has built a solid foundation for Whitecaps FC — it is the right time for an owner with the platform, resources and ambition to enhance the club’s ability to compete at the highest levels of MLS and steward the club in realizing its significant potential.”
Kerfoot said it was gratifying to see how meaningful the Whitecaps are for the city and how the club had contributed to the soccer community in Vancouver and B.C.
“The passionate MLS supporters, Academy development teams and players, the thousands of kids who attend camps, and the groups we support in nurturing the game in so many places have all proven out our belief in Vancouver as a first-class soccer market,” he said.
“The future of the Vancouver Whitecaps is bright.”
The Whitecaps finished last season with a 13-13-8 record and beat their regional rival Portland Thorns in a post-season playoff game before being eliminated by Los Angeles FC in a three-game first-round matchup.
Vancouver fired head coach Vanni Sartini from his role last month.
The club was first bought by Kerfoot in 2002, before the current ownership group was assembled in 2008. The aim was to get the Whitecaps into the MLS and build a downtown stadium for the club.
In March 2011, the Whitecaps played their first MLS game. The following year, the club invested $15 million to build the Whitecaps FC National Soccer Development Centre at the University of B.C. The investment marked the next chapter of the organization’s community involvement, with soccer promoted at all ages and levels across B.C.
Earlier this year, the club marked its 50th anniversary of the Whitecaps.
“The Vancouver Whitecaps would not be where they are today without the vision and commitment of this exceptional ownership group,” said MLS commissioner Don Garber.
“The Whitecaps are a terrific club in a world-class city. On behalf of everyone at Major League Soccer, I want to thank them for their tremendous contributions and look forward to working with them to identify new ownership for the club.”
Goldman Sachs will advise on the next steps and handle the transaction.
More to come.
With files from The Canadian Press.