Saturday April 27, 2019 ~ LANGFORD
~ by Mary P Brooke, West Shore Voice News
The excitement that has been building all year is about to break loose tomorrow, on Sunday April 28.
About 5,100 people — a sellout crowd — are expected to fill the stands on Sunday April 28 for the inaugural Pacific FC game against the HFX Wanderers FC. Gates open 1 pm, game starts 4 pm, followed by a concert and fireworks. Word is there will also be a fly-past over the stadium.
This past weekend the installation of themed seating — purple and white chairs spelling out P F C in the stands. And yesterday ground crews were busy setting up for the vendor areas and laying down artificial turf along the Langford Parkway side of the venue.
Tickets sold out on Thursday afternoon for this game (a few standing room tickets were available as of Friday morning).
Gates open at 1 pm on Sunday with performances from Stages Performing Arts and the Military Dixie Land Band. Beer gardens will be open and there will be a post-game concert from Towers & Trees and Deep Sea Gypsies.
“There is excitement from our players, staff and throughout the city,” said Rob Friend, CEO, Pacific FC. “We have been working hard in all aspects of our club to provide an exceptional football experience to Vancouver Island and the time has finally come to take the field.”
“There is a predicted rivalry between the two coastal teams, many Pacific FC team members have played under Halifax Head Coach Stephen Hart through their National Team training and are familiar with his keen coaching abilities,” say Pacific FC organizers. “In current Canadian professional sports coast-to-coast match ups are non-existent. In fact, it’s the third furthest distance in professional soccer for two teams to play each other in the world.”
“Our team has been working hard to be prepared for this very special season opener. I feel we have come a long way since the start and I can’t wait to see the boys out there competing,” said Michael Silberbauer, Head Coach, Pacific FC. “It is an exciting time for our club and for soccer in Canada in general.”
Team roster:
- Forwards: Marcus Haber, Terran Campbell, Issey Nakajima-Farran
- Midfield: Ben Fisk, Victor Blasco, José Hernandez, Noah Verhoeven, Alessandro Hojabrpour
- Defenders: Hendrik Starostzik, Lukas MacNaughton, Matthew Baldisimo, Kadin Chung, Blake Smith, Ryan McCurdy, Émile Legault
- Goalkeepers: Mark Village, Nolan Wirth
Parking Info at Westhills: https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/parking-at-westhills-stadium
Transportation Info to Westhills (shuttle and buses): https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/transportation-services
========= MORE:
ABOUT PACIFIC FOOTBALL CLUB
Founded in 2018, Pacific Football Club brings professional football to
Vancouver Island. Playing out of a renovated, 6000-seat Westhills Stadium in
Langford, the club will provide an outlet for Canadian soccer players to
compete at the professional level of the sport on home soil. Fans will be able
to enjoy the thrilling, fast-paced sporting atmosphere associated with the
sport when the Canadian Premier League season kicks off in April 2019.
For season ticket information: https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/pacific-football-club-ticketing
ABOUT THE CANADIAN PREMIER LEAGUE
Canadian Premier League (CPL) is Canada’s professional men’s soccer league set to debut on April 27, 2019. Playing in world-class and unique venues, and partnering with strong community-led ownership groups, the CPL is a league for Canadians by Canadians that will bring professional soccer to communities coast-to-coast.
For updates and more information: CanPL.ca. | Twitter: @CPLsoccer and #CanPL
A veritable army of organizers and promoters as well as the coaching team and players are in high gear getting ready for Sunday’s exciting first game.