Whitecaps 2, Real Salt Lake 1: Vancouver the league benchmark, RSL the sets the sale price
Article content
For sale: one battered and bruised once-proud franchise, has good bones, but has seen better days. A few internal structural issues to work out.
Article content
Article content
For sale: A battered and bruised franchise that's had a major makeover and is now in pristine showroom condition. You won't find a better one in North America.
Article content
How about a BOGO real? Buy the Vancouver Whitecaps and we'll throw in the Vancouver Canucks? Forget about those pesky market valuations and the fact the Canucks aren't actually for sale. The NHL club could benefit from a change of ownership — either by breathing life into or giving it some, uhh, breathing room — and maybe get back to the league's upper echelon.
Article content
Article content
The Whitecaps, though, are in rare territory. A third of the way through the Major League Soccer season, they're seven points clear atop the Western Conference standings and lead the table overall.
Article content
Article content
The players, coaches and performance staff have done their part in making the Caps an attractive-looking buy, finally bringing some universal attention on the small-market team.
Article content
The curb appeal on this team sale is off the charts.
Article content
If one needed an idea of what it would take to purchase the Caps, their opponents Saturday night were just sold for $US600 million to the Larry H. Miller family, former owners of the NBA's Utah Jazz.
Article content
RSL are pretty close to an apples-for-apples comparison in terms of value. Vancouver sits at $470 million in Sportico's estimation, Forbes at $440 million. The Caps' revenue is the lowest in the league at $40 million, with their operating income at $-10 million. Only Colorado and Montreal are considered to be worth less.
Article content
Article content
Salt Lake sold for $100 million more than their valuation, and have revenue of $50 million and no operating losses.
Article content
Article content
The Whitecaps have been decent in terms of attendance, sitting seventh last season, though they've only cracked the 20,000 mark once in seven league games at B.C. Place this year. That included Saturday night against RSL, with 19,762 coming through the turnstiles.
Article content
Vancouver is a bandwagon town, but there's plenty of room left among the haybales. How much success do the Whitecaps have to have before they get back above 20K on the average? They were at 26,791 in 2024 — and had none of the buzz that this squad does.
Article content
Article content
They looked as dangerous and entertaining Saturday night as they had in the previous matches of their current 10-game unbeaten streak. Jayden Nelson was giving Justen Glad nightmares on the left wing, blowing by the RSL defender at will with his pace. He opened the scoring 20 minutes in by undressing the entire left side of Real's defence, then slotted it casually into the corner.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
14 hours ago
- CBC
Whitecaps defender Adekugbe's injury suffered on Canada duty diagnosed as torn Achilles
Social Sharing Vancouver Whitecaps defender Sam Adekugbe tore his Achilles tendon with Canada at the Canadian Shield Tournament and has been replaced by Sporting Kansas City's Zorhan Bassong on Jesse Marsch's CONCACAF Gold Cup roster. Adekugbe had to be helped off the field after going down with an apparent non-contact injury in the 81st minute of the penalty shootout loss to Ivory Coast on Tuesday at Toronto's BMO Field. In announcing the injury news Thursday, Canada Soccer said Adekugbe has returned to the Whitecaps "who will determine next steps along with the player." Canada, ranked 30th in the world, opens Gold Cup play Tuesday against No. 75 Honduras in Vancouver before heading to Houston to face No. 90 Curacao and No. 81 El Salvador. It's the latest injury setback for the 30-year-old Adekugbe, who has won 43 caps for Canada and was part of the 2022 World Cup squad. He left the Whitecaps' March 2 game against the Los Angeles Galaxy with a leg injury, missing the next 12 games until returning April 27 against Minnesota. WATCH | Canada falls to Ivory Coast on penalties, wins Canadian Shield Tournament on points: Canada falls to Ivory Coast in penalty kicks, still captures inaugural Canadian Shield 2 days ago Duration 1:59 Canada's Luc de Fougerolles kick came up short, and Mohamed Diomande's goal gave Ivory Coast a 5-4 victory over Canada in penalties Tuesday in Toronto. Adekugbe, who returned to the Whitecaps in 2023, had previously been sidelined by sidelined by calf and knee problems. "Sam has demonstrated tremendous dedication and resilience in his journey back to full fitness, which makes this setback even more heartbreaking," Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said in a statement Thursday. "He'll need time to process this moment, and throughout his recovery, he'll have the unwavering support of everyone at the club. "Sam is part of our family, and we're all behind him as he begins his road to recovery." It's 1 year until the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Is Vancouver ready? Adekugbe has scored three goals in 12 appearances for Vancouver across all competitions this year. Adekugbe came back to Canada after escaping earthquake-ravaged Antakya in Turkey, where he had been playing for Hatayspor. He joined the Turkish Super Lig team in June 2021 from Norway's Valerenga Fotball. Born in London, England, he was three when his family moved to Manchester and 10 when it came to Calgary. At 16, he moved to Vancouver to join the Whitecaps residency program. He signed a homegrown contract with the MLS team in 2013 but made just 16 appearances for the team over the next four seasons, spending much of the time out on loan. Adekugbe had loans stints with Brighton in the English Championship and Sweden's IFK Goteborg before joining Valerenga in January 2018.
Winnipeg Free Press
15 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Bad news for Adekugbe. Injury on Canada duty diagnosed as torn Achilles tendon
Vancouver Whitecaps defender Sam Adekugbe tore his Achilles tendon with Canada at the Canadian Shield Tournament and has been replaced by Sporting Kansas City's Zorhan Bassong on Jesse Marsch's CONCACAF Gold Cup roster. Adekugbe had to be helped off the field after going down with an apparent non-contact injury in the 81st minute of the penalty shootout loss to Ivory Coast on Tuesday at Toronto's BMO Field. In announcing the injury news Thursday, Canada Soccer said Adekugbe has returned to the Whitecaps 'who will determine next steps along with the player.' Canada, ranked 30th in the world, opens Gold Cup play Tuesday against No. 75 Honduras in Vancouver before heading to Houston to face No. 90 Curaçao and No. 81 El Salvador. It's the latest injury setback for the 30-year-old Adekugbe, who has won 43 caps for Canada and was part of the 2022 World Cup squad. He left the Whitecaps' March 2 game against the Los Angeles Galaxy with a leg injury, missing the next 12 games until returning April 27 against Minnesota. Adekugbe, who returned to the Whitecaps in 2023, had previously been sidelined by sidelined by calf and knee problems. 'Sam has demonstrated tremendous dedication and resilience in his journey back to full fitness, which makes this setback even more heartbreaking,' Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said in a statement Thursday. 'He'll need time to process this moment, and throughout his recovery, he'll have the unwavering support of everyone at the club. 'Sam is part of our family, and we're all behind him as he begins his road to recovery.' Adekugbe has scored three goals in 12 appearances for Vancouver across all competitions this year. Adekugbe came back to Canada after escaping earthquake-ravaged Antakya in Turkey, where he had been playing for Hatayspor. He joined the Turkish Super Lig team in June 2021 from Norway's Valerenga Fotball. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Born in London, England, he was three when his family moved to Manchester and 10 when it came to Calgary. At 16, he moved to Vancouver to join the Whitecaps residency program. He signed a homegrown contract with the MLS team in 2013 but made just 16 appearances for the team over the next four seasons, spending much of the time out on loan. Adekugbe had loans stints with Brighton in the English Championship and Sweden's IFK Goteborg before joining Valerenga in January 2018. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2025
The Province
2 days ago
- The Province
Welcome to šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street: Vancouver's newest street name is also its first using alphabet other than English
Abbotsford Canucks: Travis Green knows 'it's not a race' for Manny Malhotra to run an NHL bench Police on alert as Hells Angels motorcycle gang members gather in Surrey Abbotsford Canucks: Will Lockwood has Calder Cup incentive with red-hot Charlotte Checkers Moving Whitecaps from Vancouver would be 'a crime': FIFA vice-president Welcome to šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street: Vancouver's newest street name is also its first using alphabet other than English Vancouver follows the City of Victoria, which in 2022 changed all of its Trutch Street signs to Su'it Street, removing the name of the early colonial politician. Photo by David Carrigg Article content Vancouver's newest street name is set to be the city's first officially named in an alphabet other than English: šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account Email Address Continue or View more offers Article content The new name, which comes from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language of the Musqueam First Nation, will replace Trutch Street on Vancouver's West Side if city council approves a staff report at a meeting next week. Article content tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Welcome to šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street: Vancouver's newest street name is also its first using alphabet other than English Back to video tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Play Video Article content The report says the Musqueam First Nation has long advocated for removing the name of B.C.'s first lieutenant-governor, Joseph Trutch, from the street as a way to 'acknowledge Trutch's racist legacy, reduce the prominence of his name, and advance reconciliation efforts.' Trutch denied the existence of Inidegnous rights and reduced the size of reserve lands, the city website says, and the politician is now 'acknowledged as being openly racist and hostile to First Nation Peoples.' In July 2021, Vancouver's then-mayor Kennedy Stewart proposed removing the Trutch name and choosing another picked by the Musqueam chief and council, a move that was unanimously supported by council. In September 2022, the Musqueam Nation, or xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, provided the name 'šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street,' which translated into English as 'Musqueamview Street.' Canucks Report Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Canucks Report will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Article content Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Some Vancouver neighbourhoods, including Chinatown and the Punjabi Market, have street signs featuring other languages along with the official street name, such as Pender or Main Street. The difference in the new proposal would be that šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm will be the street's sole official name. 'In accordance with xʷməθkʷəy̓əm wishes, the legal name of the street will be solely šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street, making this Vancouver's first street named in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓,' the city report says. 'With no fluent speakers left, this change is a landmark moment for the revitalization of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm language, weaving the display of hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ into the public fabric of city life.' Because this is the first Vancouver street named in an alphabet other than English, the city requested input from several entities, including the city's legal department, Vancouver Police Department, Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, B.C. Emergency Health Services, and others. Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Share this article in your social network Latest National Stories
