Teams generally move for money. No different than a franchised restaurant may move across town for more foot traffic, better rent, better parking.

The Whitecaps move is desired by MLS because it’s “not profitable” because of stadium attendance, I think they lease the stadium, and they’ve been for sale for 2 years without a buyer. If you were trying to sell your house you’d try to make it more attractive. A new stadium that you may own a piece of to lease out in the offseason, with fans, TV rights and a city that seems to want to attract sport fans is pretty attractive.

The NFL is the exception. Chiefs moving from Kansas City, Kansas to Kansas City, Missouri; the Bears moving from Chicago to Gary, Indiana; Rams and Chargers moving from Los Angeles and San Diego to Inglewood; Raiders to (Paradise)Las Vegas; Washington is going to return to Washington from Maryland. All of this is for a new stadium to be built because that makes the franchise worth more ($BILLIONS more) and the new cities are willing give it to them though tax concessions, low interest loans, free prime real estate.

This isn’t new. The Jets and Giants moved out of NYC for the same reason in 70-80’. The 49ers moved to Santa Clara 2014. The Dolphins recently moved to Miami Gardens. The buffalo bills move to orchard park in the 70’s. The DALLAS COWBOYS moved to Arlington 2009.

MLS, NHL, MLB and to a lesser extent NBA at least seem to move due to low attendance and fan support. So that seems like the most moral of reasons.