THE City of Vancouver on Wednesday confirmed The Show Vancouver Bid Corporation (TSV) will work with the City to explore a potential future Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise opportunity for Vancouver.

In April, Vancouver Council directed staff to launch a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) process to identify a qualified proponent and potential ownership group to pursue an MLB expansion franchise in Vancouver.

The City received TSV’s submission through the RFEOI process. The submission was evaluated against the qualification criteria established in the RFEOI, including financial capacity, relevant expertise, governance structure and the proposed approach to pursuing an MLB expansion franchise.

Council directed staff to enter a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with TSV. The MOU will establish a framework for collaboration, including due diligence for potential ballpark sites, as TSV explores and develops a potential expansion bid.

TSV will be responsible for all costs and financial risks associated with preparing and advancing its MLB bid.

No decisions have been made regarding a potential MLB franchise, ballpark location or associated development. At this stage, the City will collaborate with TSV as it explores and develops a potential expansion bid. Any future project agreements, site selection, land use decisions, development approvals, lease arrangements or other related matters would be subject to future Council consideration and approval.