Hello!

With the MLS All-Star activities getting under way in Charlotte, and with Sebastian Berhalter’s transfer now official, news broke shortly after last week’s newsletter that Andrés Cubas would take Seba’s place. Congrats Andrés!

On that note, does the All-star competition between the MLS and Ligue MX matter much to you? Or is it simply background noise at best? I’m curious.

Most important is the other late-breaking news that not only could BC Place stadium be up for sale to the right party, but “everyone” wants in on that action. To help see a different perspective on that news I connected with my friend and host of the BC Lions Den Pawdcast, Brian Wawryshyn, for a quick Q&A. Check it out down in Around the Pitch.

The View

Analytically speaking, the Whitecaps FC are top of the table when it comes to xG over the season sitting at a mark of 39.93.

Problem is the ‘Caps have only put 37 in the back of the net. A trend that didn’t change down in Saint Paul this past weekend, not that the away side had many opportunities through the full 90’.

With the short turnaround from the midweek loss against Cincinnati, the Whitecaps FC went into their match against the Loons with a few changes - Thomas Müller in for Ryan Gauld, Cheikh Sabaly for the injured Bruno Caicedo, and Ranko Veselinović for the suspended Édier Ocampo.

Defensively an improvement.

Offensively… well… there’s always a chance.

Something I’ve spoken about previously, and was a common refrain from supporters this weekend, there seems to be a disconnect between Brian White and Müller. White often looks for a ball that would set him free, while Müller tends to look for constant possession (which in this match he played to a fault). Maybe that will change once we have Gauld as the conduit between the too, but that wasn’t Saturday.

Complicating matters further, at least as far as the tactical substitutions available, Veselinović went down with a knock to his knee and required an early replacement. Fingers crossed Ranko is okay.

So maybe we should consider the resulting nil-nil draw a positive when everything is considered?

Or maybe not.

The Whitecaps FC held the vast majority of possession, maintaining the ball at their feet for two-third of the match. In recent history, this bodes well for the team and often results in them capitalizing on the many opportunities all the possession presents. Have the ball, shoot the ball, score the goals.

Yet for reasons that behoove me, shoot the ball was a forgotten step, aside from one clearcut chance from White early on.

In fact, despite carrying the clear possession advantage, the final xG had Minnesota the hard-pressed side as they generated 1.1 to Vancouver’s 0.6. And this was despite both sides putting 11 towards the net, with Vancouver actually getting 2 more on target than Minnesota at 7!

Tells you all you need to know about the quality of those opportunities, eh?

The one bright spot of the match was Sam Adekugbe returning to action late. While I had hoped we might see Sam get more minutes during the Canadian Championship tie against Cavalry, it was good to see him return to the pitch.

The Good

• The return of Sam Adekugbe. He’s had a spell of horrible luck over the past year and a bit, so it’s nice to see him get back into the game. Not certain if he swaps in for Tate Johnson quite yet, but the way the ‘Caps luck goes it doesn’t hurt to have depth on the bench.

The Not So Good

• Goal scoring. If only Vancouver had Miami’s luck.

Around the Pitch

With all the recent hubbub about the potential of the Whitecaps FC potentially operating BC Place stadium, the Government then floating the idea that the 'Caps might want to buy the dome, and then news that the owner of the BC Lions would like a shot at the barn between Pacific and Expo Blvd, there's been quite the stir in the sphere of both Whitecaps FC supporters and BC Lions fans.

Seeing as any change to the stadium impacts either of the two primary tenants, I thought it would be cool to get the perspective from someone with their thumb on the pulse of the BC Lions and reached out to Brian Wawryshyn, the founder and host of the BC Lions Den Pawdcast.

Chris: For readers who might not be familiar, can you introduce yourself and the BC Lions Den Pawdcast?

Brian: I’ve been a Lions season ticket holder for 24 years, and a Lions fan for fifty years. In 2013 I started the BC Lions Den Pawdcast, but took a two-year break before resurrecting the show in a new live format this season. I’ve been to eighteen Grey Cups, and usually attend whether the Lions are in the game or not. The CFL community is a family.

C: As someone with an "orange coloured lens," what is your view on the current ownership situation with the 'Caps? And do you think there are any similarities to the 'Caps desire to find an owner and what the Lions have gone through over the decades?

B: As a casual soccer fan, I certainly want the Whitecaps to remain in Vancouver. I played soccer as a kid, went to games at Empire, had season tickets in BC Place for a couple years. Personally, I think the business model of MLS has some issues, and it’s a lot tougher to make a go of it. You’re dealing in American dollars, the exchange rate for instance, and you have some big salaries the Lions don’t have to deal with.

I don’t know all the details. The Lions were able to find local ownership, their overhead and business model is a lot different, and they come close to breaking even. Where they do share difficulties is their deal with BC Place, one where they (prior to their new lease deal) get no parking or concession revenue. That is believed to have changed, though no details of their new three-year lease have been released. Amar Doman has been on record saying any progress on that would be a game changer for the Lions bottom line.

C: MLS and the Whitecaps FC have shouted loudly the stadium situation hampers the ability for the club to make adequate money, while in the next breath suggest corporate support in BC is lacking. Do you feel this has any truth and are the Lions in a similar situation? If not, is there anything the Whitecaps could learn from the Lions?

B: The Lions have multiple corporate sponsorships, and they are very visible during their games. Save-on-Foods, London Drugs, Telus, Subway, are some that come to mind. This is a lot easier for the Lions since there are many stoppages and TV timeouts for CFL games. The Lions also receive TV Money that basically covers player salary expenditures before even playing a game. The recently announced new deal with TSN, DAZN and YouTube is worth half a billion and will increase salaries as well as money teams receive. So again, the models are different, and with just nine teams, it’s easier to spread the wealth around to make sure all the teams are stabilized.

C: Recently we saw reports that suggest the Whitecaps FC put together a proposal to operate BC Place (or potentially own as suggested could be possible by Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth Ravi Kahlon). If they (or their new owners) took over BC Place operations outright, what’s your biggest concern for how that would affect the Lions’ gameday experience, scheduling, or even fan engagement?

B: To me any concessions or benefits from a publicly owned facility must be extended to both tenants. Scheduling doesn’t concern me. The Lions need nine to eleven dates a year, and there isn’t much overlap. They key dates would be in the fall for potential playoff games. The Lions also see their biggest attended games after Labour Day, so they would want some assurance of dates in the fall.

C: Speaking of BC Place potentially being up for sale, TSN’s Farhan Lalji reported that BC Lions owner Amar Doman tendered a letter of interest in purchasing the stadium. Is this simply a prudent owner ensuring a deal doesn't pass him by or do you think he'd seriously look to do this? And does he have the capital?

B: I think Amar Doman would be seriously interested in purchasing BC Place if given the opportunity do so. His companies had three billion worth of revenue last year, and he’s personally worth a reported 750-800 million. The Lions say he’s floated the idea since buying the team, so this isn’t a new interest of his. If it were to come to fruition, my guess based on what I’ve heard is there would be a group that would come together to do that, and that he certainly has the relationships and wherewithal to make that happen.

C: A "perfect world situation" I've pitched in the past is having Amar Doman as part of any future ownership group of the Whitecaps. Think he'd have any interest?

B: I don’t think he would be interested in doing that simply based on the business model of the MLS. That’s just my personal opinion. Now that said, I think there are intriguing possibilities of the teams being linked ownership wise, with cross promotions, managing the stadium as co-owners etc. There would also be concerns. It would need to be the right group of people to make sure both teams were treated equally, and no infighting occurred.

C: BC Place is a fantastic stadium - but do you see it as the location of the future for the BC Lions, let alone the Whitecaps FC? There are many 'Caps supporters who want a grass pitch in an outdoor stadium (not ideal when the league is transitioning to a more traditional schedule) - do Lions fans ever ask for something similar?

B: The Lions are on record as saying BC Place is too big for them, but it’s a fantastic place to watch a football game, and it also gives them the chance to host larger attended playoff games and Grey Cups. The newly added premium areas provide them great revenue options as well.

Ideally, I think most fans would love a smaller, 30,000 seat venue, with parking and tailgating options. You look at Winnipeg and Saskatchewan and what they have built there. It’s the perfect size for today’s CFL. Everything I have read says the Caps don’t want a stadium with the Lions, they want a grass field, and don’t want football played on it. There is ZERO chance two new stadiums get built in that scenario. I think this is where the Caps may need to concede and bring the Lions in to look at a new stadium. Amar Doman would certainly be willing to listen.

C: Our passion for Vancouver sports - specifically the Vancouver Canucks - is what connected us all those years ago (when was it again? '07, '08?). A struggle I have is seeing fans of any Vancouver sports franchise purposely taking shots at another - any idea why this happens here? And is it something you think happens elsewhere?

B: I have no idea why it happens here, but it drives me insane. You go to Seattle, they support all their teams.

One of the things that drives me nuts, coming from MLS fans is how they look down on the CFL. Because it has nine teams, It’s not the NFL etc., yet MLS isn’t even the second best soccer league in the world. I don’t think you hear that coming the other way from CFL fans. Probably because we’re always the ones fighting perception issues.

I’m of the opinion Vancouver isn’t a true sports town. It’s an event town. It will support things like the Olympics, the World Cup etc., but when it comes to its local teams, if they aren’t winning, they aren’t supported as well.

It would be fantastic if football fans supported soccer fans, and vice-versa. The lower bowl at would be filled every game, and the upper bowl would be open a lot more frequently.

C: And finally, for those readers who also follow the BC Lions - if you were given the role of Senior Advisor to General Manager Ryan Rigmaiden, what would suggestions would you have for him to turn the Lions around?

B: Draft better, build through the trenches. The Lions have suffered because their offensive and defensive lines don’t have the depth and, in many positions, have regressed. With a franchise quarterback like Nathan Rourke, he needs to be protected, and football is one in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

C: Thank you again so much for answering these questions! Is there anything you'd like to add or share with readers of the best vibes-based Vancouver Whitecaps FC newsletter?

B: Just that I hope everything works out for the Whitecaps and they remain in Vancouver. I was at the Soccer Bowl parade in 1979, and they have a great tradition here. It would be a shame for Canadian soccer if they left. That, and let’s support each other, Lions fans should go to Caps games, Caps fans should go to Lions games, and let’s become a true sports city. These two teams were once BOTH bigger than the Canucks. Sadly, we’ve lost that, and those of us who remember regular crowds of 40,000-50,000 in BC Place, remember how special those days were.

First of all, many thanks to Brian for taking part in my Q&A. If it’s something you’d like to see more of, please feel free to reply to this and let me know who might make a good conversation and I’ll try to make it happen!

Secondly, it will be nice to return to my seats in Section 231 this weekend, when LAFC drop by to help re-open BC Place stadium. And with Son Heung-min in big demand, we’ll also see a fair number of fans occupy seats in the upper bowl which is always nice.

And in what I hope will be a nice development, is the chance we’ll see all three of Ryan Gauld, Brian White, and Thomas Müller in the Starting XI. I know the chance remains slim, with Müller seeing the pitch during the All-star match tomorrow night, but I dare to dream.

And dream I will.

By the way, #SaveTheCaps!