Canada’s Vancouver Whitecaps FC are joining forces with the City of Vancouver to explore a new stadium and entertainment district at Hastings Park.
The Vancouver Whitecaps said the pair have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enter an exclusive negotiation period through 2026, marking a significant step toward creating a world-class sports and cultural destination for residents and visitors.
During this time, the City and Whitecaps FC will work collaboratively to negotiate terms for a ground lease, including the stadium’s design, financial terms and community benefits for the proposed development.
The Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Vancouver (Canada). The Whitecaps compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference.
The Whitecaps’ urrent home is the 54,500-capacity BC Place, a multipurpose stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim. “After an incredible year that saw the Whitecaps reach the MLS Cup Final for the first time in club history, it’s clear just how much this team means to our city, and we’re incredibly excited to be taking the next step forward.
“This MOU demonstrates a firm commitment by both the City and the Whitecaps to advance work towards a new stadium here in Vancouver.
“The partnership we are building today has the potential to create jobs, boost our local economy, and transform Hastings Park into an even more vibrant destination for sports, concerts, and community events.”
The proposed lease area is within the current Hastings Racecourse footprint, which includes space recently used for racecourse and casino operations.
The City will retain ownership of the land at Hastings Racecourse Park. Both parties also recognize the Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s agreement to purchase the casino business currently operating on the site.
Hastings Park is a municipal park located in the northeast sector of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in the Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood. The 62 hectares (150 acres) park features several sports and recreation facilities, including Hastings Racecourse and Playland amusement park.
The southern portions of the park are also used as the fairgrounds for the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE).
The Whitecaps announced in the spring last year that they were exploring the idea of building their own venue at the PNE Fairgrounds in Vancouver near where the club’s old stadium once stood.
Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC CEO, said, “We’re grateful for the City’s partnership and look forward to working together to determine whether Hastings Park can become the location for a future home of our club.
“We have a lot of work ahead of us, but this is a positive step forward, and we hope many more will follow as we work to secure a permanent home that will allow us to compete with long-term stability in Major League Soccer.”
The project will undergo all required regulatory approvals and public processes, including zoning and development applications. The City and Whitecaps FC are committed to transparency and engagement throughout the planning process.
Next steps include preliminary planning and design proposals for the site and intensified negotiations for a potential ground lease.
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