Plans are underway to build a new Vancouver Whitecaps FC soccer stadium at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) fairgrounds on the east side of the city. This news is creating considerable concern for Hastings Racecourse and the Horsemen’s Benevolent Protective Association of British Columbia (HBPA-BC) as well as hundreds of people employed in the horseracing industry on the grounds.
According to a report in CTV News, on April 11th the MLS club confirmed it had discussed with the City of Vancouver the possibility of a new home at the PNE for the club, which was put up for sale in December. It is hoped this move to a permanent home from leased space at B.C. Place will attract buyers and enable the team to stay in Vancouver. Whitecaps CEO and sporting director Axel Schuster said to the news outlet, “We are only working on one plan, one goal, and this is to keep the club in Vancouver and to find a very good setup for the future for this club in Vancouver.”
No details regarding how this will be accomplished have been released, including a timeline, what new rapid transit projects would have to be developed, and where exactly on the fully-utilized PNE grounds the new stadium would be located:
HBPA-BC president David Milburn told CTV News that horse racing has taken place at the Hastings oval since 1889. “We’ll do whatever we have to do to make sure we are not displaced from these grounds. There are a lot of people that require the racetrack for their livelihoods.” Hastings Racecourse directly employs approximately 230 individuals, not including the staff of horse owners and trainers on the backstretch.
Ryan McCartney, general manager of Hastings (whose lease with the city is up in 2026), told Canadian Thoroughbred that “It is business as usual for our operations at Hastings Racecourse and Casino; we have not been involved in discussions with the City of Vancouver regarding any change.”
This is not the first time the track has faced adversity. In 2011, Hastings was expected to be shuttered at the end of its 2012 lease due to low wagering numbers and slot revenue, as well as problems attaining a new lease with the city. Great Canadian Entertainment ‒ which has owned the track since 2004 and also owns Fraser Downs Racetrack in Surrey and two other Standardbred tracks in Ontario ‒ negotiated a deal to keep the track open and running. Most recently, a successful 2024 racing season at Hastings Racecourse concluded on October 13; total wagering reached $21,531,203; its feature event is the popular BC Cup Day on the first Monday in August.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said keeping the Whitecaps in Vancouver is a priority to prevent the team from leaving the region “and so we’ll look at everything.” According to Forbes, the Whitecaps have the lowest revenue among MLS teams and incurred a $10 million deficit last season. Also, the use of public parkland for a private stadium has raised concerns about whether taxpayers should be subsidizing the team in this manner, and the impact on nearby residents.
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