The City of Vancouver has named a developer-led consortium as its preferred partner to advance a bid for a Major League Baseball expansion franchise, marking the latest step in a process that could reshape waterfront and mixed-use development options in the city.
Selected partner and next steps
The group, known as The Show Vancouver, is led by local real estate developer Zack Ross, president of Cape Group. Council directed staff to enter a memorandum of understanding with the consortium to establish a collaboration framework and begin due diligence on possible ballpark sites.
"Vancouver is one of the great cities in the world, and we deserve a Major League Baseball team."
The city said that under the proposed arrangement the private group would bear all costs and financial risk associated with preparing and advancing an MLB bid. Any future project agreements, site selection and land-use decisions would remain subject to council approval.
What Vancouver residents know — and what remains to be resolved
- Partner: The Show Vancouver, led by Zack Ross (Cape Group).
- Primary proposal: A new ballpark paired with mixed-use development (site not yet announced).
- Financials: Cost estimates, financing plans and projected economic impacts have not been disclosed.
The city did not release details on a proposed site, estimated project cost, or the financing structure for the development. These matters will be part of the due-diligence work the city and the group are expected to carry out under the memorandum of understanding.
Context: MLB expansion and past baseball in Vancouver
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has previously indicated the league could grow from 30 to 32 teams before his stated retirement in 2029, and has said another Canadian city could be a fit for expansion. The league itself has not announced formal expansion plans.
Vancouver has past experience hosting Major League exhibition games; BC Place staged MLB exhibition series in the 1980s and 1990s. The new bid centres on building a modern ballpark alongside private development, a model that raises questions about traffic, transit capacity, housing and waterfront planning.
Immediate implications for municipal process
By selecting a preferred partner the city initiates a public-private process that will require multiple municipal approvals. Council retains final authority over land-use decisions and any agreements that might follow the MOU.
| Milestone | Status |
|---|---|
| Preferred partner selection | Completed — The Show Vancouver chosen |
| Memorandum of understanding | Directed by council — to be negotiated |
| Site selection, financing disclosures | Pending — will follow due diligence |
City officials said they will collaborate with The Show Vancouver as the group advances its bid, but reiterated that the private consortium will be responsible for the preparation costs. The arrangement will keep the city involved in oversight while limiting its financial exposure in the initial phases.
Local residents and stakeholders can expect further public discussion as the MOU frames the work ahead. Key questions for neighbourhoods and the city include where a ballpark could be located, how construction and operations might affect housing and transportation, and how benefits and burdens of any associated development will be distributed.
The selection of a Vancouver-led ownership group revives long-running conversations about the city’s capacity to host a major professional sports franchise and the municipal role in large private developments tied to public lands and infrastructure.
