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southsloper
Active Member
- Aug 25, 2015
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Canadian Premier League - Startup Spring 2019?
- Thread starter southsloper
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LosBlancos
Member
- Aug 15, 2017
- 21
Will be very interesting to see if the teams in this league also pursue a youth development program to give more kids more opportunities other then just Whitecaps/TFC. Having a strong second layer of youth development and giving extremely talented teenagers an opportunity to play pro football against men is an absolute must. The number of times that I've heard that the breakdown in Canadian player development is the lack of pro leagues for these kids to play in and is one of the reasons why European kids jump away from our boys in this stage of their development. Allowing these clubs to be involved in club or academy youth competition would also be necessary. Will be very interesting to see what happens. We really need this league to succeed.
CoastalGunner
Member
- Sep 7, 2016
- 33
So it would seem that the roll out of announcements for the first teams in the newly minted Canadian Premier League (CPL) are complete. Seven teams so far. They were originally hoping for 8 to 10 teams to begin next season. Interestingly the team slated or hoped for the lower mainland went to the Vancouver Island. Great for them, but how does that help our local scene?
When WFC2 folded I had it in my brain that it was coordinated with a CPL franchise coming to the lower mainland. All of that is now askew (not to mention that VWFC don't really have a development team to support their USL/Academy level players now).
Also, no CPL representation thus far from Saskatchewan or Quebec which is a bit alarming. There are some rumours that the Ottawa Fury's NASL franchise will be moving to CPL once their current season ends which would make it 8. Fingers crossed we can get at least that for the inaugural season.
When WFC2 folded I had it in my brain that it was coordinated with a CPL franchise coming to the lower mainland. All of that is now askew (not to mention that VWFC don't really have a development team to support their USL/Academy level players now).
Also, no CPL representation thus far from Saskatchewan or Quebec which is a bit alarming. There are some rumours that the Ottawa Fury's NASL franchise will be moving to CPL once their current season ends which would make it 8. Fingers crossed we can get at least that for the inaugural season.
CoastalGunner
Member
- Sep 7, 2016
- 33
eventually yes, at least two.
Unsure we will be involved in the inaugural season tho.
Unsure we will be involved in the inaugural season tho.
CoastalGunner
Member
- Sep 7, 2016
- 33
“Not” be involved in in augural season.
Admin
Administrator
- Feb 23, 2015
- 392
Clear as mud
The Victoria franchise was supposed to be playing out of either Cloverdale or a pop-up stadium in Langley (near #1 and where that new overpass is being built (216th?)... the group couldn't get the negotiations done so there you go.
Probably a good thing because I can't see either location being ideal. Put a stadium somewhere near Surrey Central (Tom Binnie?) and you'll have yourself a winner
CoastalGunner
Member
- Sep 7, 2016
- 33
Mud indeed! I blame the ambiguity of my previous post on the inhalation of too much smoke (BC forest fire kind).
Agree that they need to find a better solution / location. I'm not privy to all of the history in the region so it may seem funny when i ask "What about Swanguard Stadium?
Agree that they need to find a better solution / location. I'm not privy to all of the history in the region so it may seem funny when i ask "What about Swanguard Stadium?
Swangard is a great location for a team. Central. Skytrain. Beautiful. Can expand to hold 10k or more (reference the u20 world cup). There is a significant parking issue though. Not sure what the rent is on the facility.
For me it has to be North Surrey or Swangard.
easoccer
Established Member
- Aug 27, 2015
- 862
Certainly the Whitecaps would put up a fuss with any new team being staged that close to them, especially a club in direct competition. I wouldn't be surprised, if any team does come in, that it would need to be east of the Fraser (Surrey outward).
Here are the reasons why Whitecaps opinion should be, and IMO is, meaningless in this regard.
1. NY and LA both have TWO teams in the Whitecaps league. CPL is a different league.
2. LA and NY also have teams in lower tiers competing "directly" with the 4 MLS teams.
3. The CPL will have pro-rel in the future, so anyone who starts at the bottom in Vancouver and works their way up will not be denied promotion because Whitecaps are also in the city.
4. Competition is good. Whitecaps will have no choice but to address the issues that are causing them to lose fans.
5. CPL will have a team in Burnaby or Surrey, I have no doubt about that. Possibly Langley - and although I'd love that for the commute reasons it would be a terrible location to attract fans to. If the CPL is doing well you can bet your bottom dollar someone, or multiple people, will want to get in on that in Vancouver city proper. No chance CPL denies having a team in Vancouver if they have the right owner/stadium. Not sure what say CSA would have on that. But Whitecaps, TFC, and MTL will quickly become the minority voice in that room as the CPL grows and has more voices even from day 1.
easoccer
Established Member
- Aug 27, 2015
- 862
Besides the huge population difference between those locations and ours, the comparison cant be so direct. For 2 premier franchises to succeed here they would need to look outward to draw more fans in which is certainly why they decided to put the first on across the ferry. If another does come to fruition, my money is on them expanding towards the Valley. In no scenario do I see them moving into Swanguard.
They put the first one in Victoria because a) Victoria had the ownership and b) they had the stadium. The Fraser Valley team didn't get off the ground, by any account I can find, because they didn't have the stadium they wanted/needed.
You believe MLS and CPL can't co-exist in Vancouver? A population of 2 million to draw from.
As I said, the next CPL team will be in Fraser Valley (Surrey). I never said the next one would be in Vancouver. I said they can certainly handle one there and I'd be stunned if it doesn't happen. When CPL opens up it's pyramid you could even see a club like TSS make it's way up. You can bet every team in Vancouver starting at the bottom of the CPL pyramid will do whatever it can to get a piece of that Whitecaps pie. Heck, rumour is the Saudi's invest in Rino's Tigers of the VMSL - foreign investment would 100% come to Vancouver if they had access to CPL from the bottom tier (or even the top tier once the Fraser Valley team is in).
That said, if the right owner/stadium comes along in Vancouver before the FV starts-up not a chance the CPL turns them away.
easoccer
Established Member
- Aug 27, 2015
- 862
No. I don't see it. It would honestly be suicide to put a team that close to WFC without first establishing the product first. And I never said you said anything. People mentioned Swanguard and I suggested if any team comes, its east of the Fraser. Seems like we're on the same page, at least a little bit anyway.
This is the beautiful part of sport discussion. Disagreements.
I also agree the first team should east of Fraser - North Surrey is my opinion. Langley or Abby would not be good at this point, I'd think.
I just also think a Vancouver team with the right owners and stadium would be just fine. Especially with the Victoria and Whitecaps derbies on the sched (and surely a FV one)
I also agree the first team should east of Fraser - North Surrey is my opinion. Langley or Abby would not be good at this point, I'd think.
I just also think a Vancouver team with the right owners and stadium would be just fine. Especially with the Victoria and Whitecaps derbies on the sched (and surely a FV one)
easoccer
Established Member
- Aug 27, 2015
- 862
Looking a the size of the Stadium in Victoria, Why not Exhibition Park in Abby? They can host 5000, maybe more with upgrades.
Even Percy Perry in Coquitlam hosted almost 5000 in the past.
Even Percy Perry in Coquitlam hosted almost 5000 in the past.
Nothing wrong with the facility in Abby. Would need a lot of upgrading with pop-up stands and covering the fence so people can't watch for free. My concern with Abby is attendance and corporate dollars.
Percy Perry would be OK, but would need same upgrades as Ex in Abby. PP has a Skytrain stop as well doesn't it? Or one within walking distance?
Ex in Abby has adequate parking from what I can tell. No pub nearby for marches though, and no parking nearby for walking into the ground. PP has university parking as overflow/alternative, a skytrain as well? Do they have pub? Pub culture will be pretty big in CPL I am sure.
I'd have no real issue with PP if they have the easy access. More likely to get good corporate dollars in Coquitlam, and also have a massive youth soccer culture there.
Percy Perry would be OK, but would need same upgrades as Ex in Abby. PP has a Skytrain stop as well doesn't it? Or one within walking distance?
Ex in Abby has adequate parking from what I can tell. No pub nearby for marches though, and no parking nearby for walking into the ground. PP has university parking as overflow/alternative, a skytrain as well? Do they have pub? Pub culture will be pretty big in CPL I am sure.
I'd have no real issue with PP if they have the easy access. More likely to get good corporate dollars in Coquitlam, and also have a massive youth soccer culture there.