Saturday April 15, 2023 | LANGFORD, BC [Updated 11:15 am – April 16, 2023]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
OFFICIAL ATTENDANCE AT THIS GAME: 4,825
The new Vancouver FC professional men’s soccer team played off against the 5th-season Pacific FC team in Langford today.
On their home turf at Starlight Stadium, Pacific FC scored one goal in the last 10 minutes of the game.
Otherwise it was a perfunctory low-energy game performance from both teams. The crowd was supportive but there were few on-field moments to get them really revved up.
Both teams have the same owner, Rob Friend (of SixFive Sports & Entertainment), which may have psychologically set an odd tone for both teams in this CPL season-opener. Both coaches brought energy to the field: James Merriman (Pacific FC) and Afshin Ghotbi (Vancouver FC). Pacific FC Captain was forward Josh Heard (Jersey 11) and Vancouver FC Captain was goalkeeper Callum Irving (Jersey 1).
A few high-profile former Pacific FC players (like Kadin Chung and Callum Irving) now play on the Vancouver FC team, against the team with which they started. For young players that might take a bit of wrapping one’s head around the sports business aspect of the sport they love.
The stands were nearly full (official attendance was 4,825, called ‘sold out’ by Pacific FC organizers), putting up with overcast skies and a very cool spring evening temperature of 9 degrees Celcius. As publicly stated over many years, the city-owned stadium officially seats about 6,000 people.
SoccerOne livestreamed the game coast to coast.
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