Sunday June 6, 2021 | NATIONAL [Updated June 7, 2021]
by Mary P Brooke, Editor | Island Social Trends
The Canadian Premier League (CPL) has announced Winnipeg as the single-city location for its 2021 soccer season.
That’s even while Manitoba has a continuing dramatic struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic. The level of support from the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg “at the forefront of all our planning has been tremendous”, said CPL Commissioner David Clanachan in a news release yesterday.
The season’s games will be played over 29 days, abiding by all mandated public health protocols and measures for Manitoba residents as well as the players, coaches, officials and staff, it was stated by CPL.
All games (32 in total) will be broadcast exclusively by the League’s official media partner, OneSoccer.
Supporting the Manitoba tourism sector was part of the city selection, according to Economic Development Winnipeg’s CEO Dayna Spiring. The event will translate into about 5,500 booked hotel room nights and a spinoff of $4.9 million including through international media coverage.
The Kickoff weekend starts at 2 pm EDT (11 am Pacific) on Saturday June 26 with FB Edmonton vs Atletico Ottawa. That will be followed by Langford-based Pacific FC vs HFX Wanderers FC at 5 pm EDT (2 pm Pacific).
The doubleheader matches will continue the next day with Forge FC vs Valour FC at 2 pm EDT followed by Cavalry FC vs York United FC at 5pm PDT at IG Field, the home of Valour FC.
Gear & schedule:
The CPL Macron kits will be unveiled tomorrow (see Pacific FC line for 2021), with the full kickoff schedule coming on June 9.
Another quiet year locally for PFC:
This leaves the Langford/Victoria-based Pacific FC without any home games for a second year in a row due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the remaining uncertainty of how restrictions on public gatherings will impact crowd attendance at sports events.
The Pacific FC inaugural season was played at the Westhills Stadium (renamed Starlight Stadium in April 2021) in Langford.
