The Canadian Premier League kicks off its sixth season this weekend, still a work in progress but with a sense of stability in most quarters.
Toronto-based York United FC, sold in November after being taken over last April by Canadian Soccer Business (which shares the same ownership as the CPL), has enthusiastic new Mexican owners and all eight clubs enter the season with the same coaches. There seems plenty to build on.
91裸聊视频淪tability is a great word for a young league and that91裸聊视频檚 where we are,91裸聊视频� said commissioner Mark Noonan. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 stability tied with growth. That91裸聊视频檚 the focus.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e in a good place to continue that path,91裸聊视频� he added.
B.C. teams in Langley and Langford are part of what Noonan calls a 91裸聊视频渓eague of opportunity91裸聊视频� with 75 per cent of its minutes going to Canadian talent.
The CPL saw five of its clubs separated by just six points, from second to fifth place, in a competitive 2023 season. And the campaign concluded in a doozy of a final that saw defending champion Forge FC win its fourth title in a dramatic 2-1 win over regular-season leader Cavalry FC with all three goals coming in extra time.
Forge coach Bobby Smyrniotis, a constant since Day 1 likes what he sees over the first five years.
91裸聊视频淢ore talent, more players, more ability,91裸聊视频� said Smyrniotis. 91裸聊视频淎nd I think that91裸聊视频檚 going to become more entertaining for all the crowds that are coming 91裸聊视频� As long as we keep putting the right product on the field.91裸聊视频�
Noonan says the news was good off the field as well.
91裸聊视频淓very kind of business metric that we measure went in the right direction,91裸聊视频� he said in an interview.
But building a league is a costly, challenging task. Observers got a peek into just how costly when the community-owned Winnipeg Blue Bombers, which operates Valour FC, released its 2023 annual report this week.
Valour, which finished last in the league at 6-14-8, lost on and off the field. Some $1.25 million advanced to the team by the parent Winnipeg Football Club was recorded as a loss 91裸聊视频渂ecause there is uncertainty on Valour91裸聊视频檚 ability to repay the loan.91裸聊视频�
In December, Noonan said CPL owners were 91裸聊视频減robably $125 million in the hole91裸聊视频� from developing 91裸聊视频渁n ecosystem for soccer in Canada that didn91裸聊视频檛 exist.91裸聊视频�
On the plus side, a disagreement with media partner Mediapro Canada that led to legal filings appears to be settled, with OneSoccer once again airing all of the league91裸聊视频檚 games.
91裸聊视频淏usiness as usual,91裸聊视频� said Noonan.
The season opens Saturday with Atletico Ottawa hosting York United, Cavalry visiting Forge in a rematch of last year91裸聊视频檚 championship game and Pacific FC entertaining Halifax Wanderers FC.
On Sunday, it91裸聊视频檚 Valour at Vancouver FC.
There are two trophies up for grabs with the CPL Shield going to the team that finishes first in the regular-season standings and the North Star Cup to the last team standing in the playoffs. Both come with berths in the CONCACAF Champions91裸聊视频� Cup, the confederation91裸聊视频檚 elite club competition.
Forge is looking for a three-peat. Smyrniotis knows it will take supreme effort.
91裸聊视频淚 think one of the most difficult things in sport is keep on winning in a salary-cap league,91裸聊视频� he said.
Atletico Ottawa has restocked its roster after finishing sixth last season at 10-12-6, missing the post-season by just two points. Additions include defenders Amer Didi膰 and Jonathan Grant, midfielders Manny Aparicio and Aboubacar Sissoko and forward Ballou Tabla.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a completely new team,91裸聊视频� said coach Carlos Gonzalez. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e trying to blend them into a good team, a great team together.91裸聊视频�
Game Plan Sports Group, led by Mexican brothers Eduardo, Miguel and Ricardo Pasquel, now own York, the second franchise with foreign ownership. Ottawa is part of Atletico Madrid91裸聊视频檚 worldwide network of clubs.
91裸聊视频淭his is the world91裸聊视频檚 game,91裸聊视频� said Noonan. 91裸聊视频淎nd bringing in a group like the Pasquel brothers and all their connections opens up a great new window for us in a lot of ways 91裸聊视频� CPL is now on the radar in Mexico.91裸聊视频�
And elsewhere. The CPL is shown in 35 countries with plans to grow that coverage.
As for expansion, Noonan says there are 15 groups interested in a CPL franchise on non-disclosure agreements. But Noonan says the league won91裸聊视频檛 add teams until they tick all the necessary boxes.
He expects the league to likely remain at eight teams in 2025 and look to expand in 2026.
91裸聊视频淏ut I91裸聊视频檓 bullish on expansion. We will double the size of this league in the next decade or so. But we have to do it smartly, 91裸聊视频� he added.
The league implemented an 91裸聊视频渆xceptional young talent91裸聊视频� designation last season, allowing teams to sign two additional under-18 domestic players who don91裸聊视频檛 count against the salary cap or roster number.
Vancouver FC took advantage of that last season to sign T.J. Tahid and James Cameron, both of whom went on to represent Canada at the youth level.
This year91裸聊视频檚 phenom is 16-year-old Grady McDonnell, who was 15 when he signed with Vancouver in January. He is on a regular three-year pro deal.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e not going out and buy Lionel Messi. But we might develop him,91裸聊视频� said Noonan. 91裸聊视频淎nd that91裸聊视频檚 what is really exciting. It91裸聊视频檚 a good reason to come to the matches, to see this next generation of players that are going to start coming up through our league.91裸聊视频�
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