'The Kickoff' is coming: Winnipeg chosen as hub city for Canadian Premier League
A month of professional soccer is coming to Winnipeg as the city has been chosen to host the start of the Canadian Premier League (CPL) season.
Announced on Saturday, "The Kickoff" will see league teams play eight games each at IG Field starting June 26, for a total of 32 games, ending July 24.
"Excitement all around," said Rob Gale, head coach and general manager of Valour FC. "And the fact that Manitoba and our field, IG Field, is going to be hosting means the whole eyes across Canada are on us."
The league said it is committed to teams playing a full 28-game season, with hopes teams can return to their home fields later in the season. Whether the games are played in different venues or remain in some sort of bubble, Gale said having a full-season schedule gives teams the opportunity to play without having injuries take teams out of contention.
"If you get a few injuries like we did last year, your squad gets decimated and you're seven games and done and you don't get to show a full sort of profile of your team and see its full capabilities," said Gale.
Valour FC will hit the pitch on June 27 for its season debut against Hamilton's Forge FC. It will be the first time the team has played competitively on its home field since 2019.
The condensed start to the CPL season will see teams play every 72 hours, something Gale said is made more difficult when players have not played competitively for an extended period of time. The last time Valour FC played was nine months ago.
The games will be for broadcast only, with no fans in the stands. The league said all health and safety protocols put in place have been approved by Manitoba public health officials.
"Guidelines are in place for team testing before travel, during the first seven days and weekly thereafter, and players will be cohorted with their teams and only interact with other teams during matches," said Dr. Brent Roussin, the chief provincial public health officer in a statement. "Additionally, essential personnel will be limited and proactive screening, monitoring and tracking of participants will be documented to ensure the event is successful and safe."
The tournament is being supported by the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce and Economic Development Winnipeg through a provincial long-term recovery fund.
Dayna Spiring, President and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg, said Winnipeg being selected as a hub city will give the city's tourism sector a much-needed boost, which has been hard hit by the pandemic.
"The Kickoff will translate into more than 5,500 booked hotel room nights and $4.9 million in economic spinoff. In addition, international media coverage will elevate Winnipeg on the global stage and position us as a premier city to host similar events in the future," said Spiring.
As for Valour FC's chances this year, Gale looks forward to the challenge.
"We're confident we've got the squad that's going to compete this year with a little bit of lady luck and hopefully some home-field advantage we'll be there or thereabouts, I'm pretty confident."
New league kits will be revealed on June 7, with a complete Kickoff schedule to be released June 9.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.