Vancouver Business Community Joins Rally to Save the ‘Caps
For Immediate Release
VANCOUVER, B.C. — The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, alongside a rapidly growing coalition of hundreds of business owners and regional leaders, has issued a powerful call to action to ensure the Vancouver Whitecaps remain a fixture of the city’s cultural and economic landscape.
In just one week, hundreds of signatories, ranging from independent local shops and entrepreneurs to major employers, have signed an open letter declaring the private sector’s commitment to helping the club bridge its current revenue gap. The initiative marks another step in the Vancouver community rallying to keep the storied franchise in Vancouver by inviting businesses of all sizes to explore sponsorships, partnerships, and group ticket programs.
“For more than 50 years, the Vancouver Whitecaps have been a pillar of our community, and the business community is sending a clear message: we want them to stay,” said Bridgitte Anderson, President and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. “The overwhelming response we’ve seen in just a few days shows that the private sector is ready to be a constructive partner and discuss how we can step up to ensure, we are protecting a vital economic engine that fuels our downtown core.”
The initiative highlights the substantial impact the club has on the local economy. Each season, hundreds of thousands of fans descend on downtown Vancouver on matchdays, providing a critical lifeline for the hospitality, retail, tourism, and transportation sectors.
“The Whitecaps bring hundreds of thousands of fans to the city each season and generate tens of millions of dollars in economic activity for downtown businesses,” said Jane Talbot, President and CEO of Downtown Van. “For more than 50 years, the Whitecaps have been woven into the fabric of Vancouver and have played an important role in the downtown experience. Beyond their economic impact, they foster connection, civic pride, and shared experiences that contribute to the energy and vibrancy of our city. Losing them would be a significant loss for the entire community.”
The signatories represent a wide swath of the British Columbia economy, all unified by the goal of finding a "made-in-Vancouver" solution. Whether through corporate partnerships or individual networks, the business community is mobilizing to ensure the club remains financially viable and firmly rooted in the city.
"As a Vancouver-based hospitality group with multiple venues operating in and around the downtown core, matchdays for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC bring significant energy, foot traffic, and economic activity to our businesses,” said Aaron Lacey, Director of Operations at IRL Group. “Home matches consistently drive increased sales, create additional shifts for our staff, and contribute to a vibrant atmosphere that benefits not only restaurants and pubs, but the broader hospitality and tourism sector across the city.”
Through this open letter, Vancouver’s business leaders aim to signal that they want to be active partners in the club’s future success. We urge all parties involved to come to the table and do the work required to find a made-in-Vancouver solution that ensures the club can stay in the city.
We invite all interested organizations to become a signatory today:
https://www.boardoftrade.com/news/open-letter/vancouver-businesses-rally-to-save-the-whitecaps
ADDITIONAL QUOTES:
“Greta Bar has always been a big supporter of the Whitecaps organization and its fan base. Being within a 10-minute walk of the stadium, we have always welcomed fans before and after the matches and believe they are some of the best fans in the league. Losing the team would drastically affect the culture and downtown feel of community and support for our local sports teams.” - Josh Zimmer, General Manager at Greta Bar
“The Whitecaps are woven into the culture and energy of Vancouver. On game days, the impact ripples far beyond the stadium filling restaurants, patios, hotels, and neighbourhoods like Yaletown with life. Keeping the Whitecaps in Vancouver means protecting an important part of what makes this city vibrant, connected, and globally exciting.” - Sarah Vallely, Executive Director, Yaletown BIA
“The Vancouver Whitecaps FC are not just a soccer club. They are an economic and cultural engine for Vancouver’s hospitality ecosystem. In a city where restaurants face rising labour costs, fragile margins, consumer caution, and downtown recovery challenges, recurring event-driven energy matters enormously. A full stadium doesn’t just help the team. It helps the bartender on Granville. The sushi place in Yaletown. The hotel near the waterfront. The Uber driver. The patio server. The brewery tasting room. That’s the old truth of hospitality: people gather first… and restaurants thrive second.”
- Ian Tostenson, President & CEO, British Columbia Restaurant and Foodservices Association
“The Whitecaps are an important part of Vancouver's identity and contribute to the energy and vibrancy that keep the downtown core and visitor economy thriving year-round. The club creates the lively atmosphere visitors and residents expect from a world-class destination, while also drawing domestic fans and travellers from across British Columbia and Canada. The hospitality sector has long supported this storied franchise and recognizes the important role it plays in enhancing the city’s event calendar, particularly during shoulder and off-peak periods. Keeping the Caps here is important to the continued vitality of the downtown experience and hospitality sector. The city cannot afford to lose another professional sports franchise.” - Paul Hawes, President and CEO, B.C. Hotel Association
A vibrant sports and entertainment industry is essential to the health of British Columbia’s $21.5B restaurant sector which employees 190,000 people across the province. From Whitecaps game days to special community events, these gatherings drive foot traffic, create jobs, and help our local restaurants and bars thrive. Restaurants Canada is proud to stand alongside community leaders to help find pathways to keep the Vancouver Whitecaps in Vancouver where they serve as a cornerstone of our region’s dynamic sports, hospitality, and entertainment ecosystem, and a catalyst for continued economic growth across the province." - Cheryl Maitland Muir, VP, Western Canada, Restaurants Canada
"For a small, independently run restaurant/beer bar like the Magnet, the home Whitecaps Games offer a wonderful opportunity to not only boost sales, but connect with the football community at large. To share not only our love & passion for the “Beautiful Game” but also to express a true spirit & togetherness which embodies what it means to be a Vancouverite. Supporting the Whitecaps is the very embodiment of local pride - the same pride people feel when they drink local craft beer, support their local coffee roasters or show an out of town friend all the things that make them love this great city. To lose the Whitecaps would be tragic. To lose the Whitecaps would affect so many folks on so many levels & I think would be truly damaging to the collective pride we all feel everyday as Vancouverites." - Nigel Springthorpe, Owner, The Magnet
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About the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade:
Since its inception in 1887, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade has been recognized as Western Canada's leading business association, engaging our members to inform public policy at all levels of government and empowering them to succeed and prosper in the global economy. With a Membership whose employees comprise one-third of B.C.'s workforce, we are the largest business association between Victoria and Toronto. We leverage this collective strength, facilitating networking opportunities and providing professional development through unique programs. In addition, we operate one of the largest events platforms in the country, providing a stage for national and international thought leaders to enlighten B.C.'s business leaders.
Media contact:
Federico Cerani
Communications Manager
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade
604-640-5450 | media@boardoftrade.com