ItB次元官网网址檚 official: Vancouver Island is the new home of a Canadian Premier League (CPL) team.
The professional team, Pacific FC, is one of the inaugural teams in the league alongside Hamilton, Winnipeg, York, Halifax, Edmonton, Ottawa and Calgary. Last month the club was conditionally approved upon moving the hydro pole on the opposite side of the grandstands at Westhills Stadium, and agreeing to build more seating.
Read More: $4 million cost to move hydro pole holding up Langford Stadium expansion
It was a full house at the launch party that took place at the Roundhouse at Bayview in Victoria. A red carpet led up to the Roundhouse where guests mingled, including local politicians and business owners.
Full house for the announcement, underway in 5 minutes!
B次元官网网址� Lindsey Horsting (@lindseyhorsting)
A reveal video was shared with guests, showing how the CPL came up with the team name and brand for Pacific FC. Given the IslandB次元官网网址檚 passion for soccer, the team felt it was right to have a professional team close to home. The word Pacific was something that resonated with everyone and the team colours play off of the ocean B次元官网网址� lagoon blue, starfish purple and lighthouse white.
The crest is a purple, blue and white slender design with a trident at the bottom.
Pacific FC crest
B次元官网网址� Lindsey Horsting (@lindseyhorsting)
Fans paraded into the Roundhouse, chanting and cheering for the Vancouver Island team, a preview of the support Pacific FC will feel at home games.
Bringing the Euro football spirit to the Island. This is what fans can expect at Pacific FC games.
B次元官网网址� Lindsey Horsting (@lindseyhorsting)
David Clanachan, commissioner of the CPL, thanked Langford Mayor Stew Young for helping get the team to the Island. Young said he is happy that kids on the Island will have local pros to look up to.
Josh Simpson, Victoria native and Pacific FC president, is excited to have a place where soccer players can grow and not have to leave home to play professionally.
B次元官网网址淭his is one of the best days of my life right now,B次元官网网址� Simpson said. B次元官网网址淚 grew up working hard, as I said before, spending time in Europe as a youngster, trying to take it all in and see what itB次元官网网址檚 really like, what it takes to be able to make it to that next level. To be able to bring it here, bring it home, and know that my nephews can aspire to play for Pacific FC, it means the world to me.B次元官网网址�
Simpson said the club will work with the lower and upper Island soccer associations, University of Victoria, Highlanders and the Whitecaps.
The club announced that B次元官网网址淢ember #1B次元官网网址� of Pacific FC will be all 14-year-olds on the Island in any given season who will automatically become a member of the club. This honours Simpson, who at 14, realized he would have to leave his family in Canada to fulfill his dreams of playing soccer at the highest level. The club will be rolling out details in the coming months but it will mean special access and free tickets.
Westhills Stadium expansion renderings were on display at the event. Rob Friend, Pacific FC executive director, said the club signed the papers right before the launch party to go ahead with the Westhills Stadium expansion to ensure approximately 5,500 seats, plus suites, will be ready for the inaugural season next April. Upon completion of the full expansion, the Stadium will be able to accommodate 12,000 fans, Young said.
Young noted the plans for the expansion are built with soccer and rugby in mind, and seating will be added to the side of the existing grandstands and the ends of the field.
B次元官网网址淵ou feel like youB次元官网网址檙e in the game when youB次元官网网址檙e at the stadium and we wanted to keep that,B次元官网网址� Young said, noting B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e going to see a really cool stadium that will be one of the best places to watch any sport in Canada. WeB次元官网网址檙e not taking an old stadium thatB次元官网网址檚 big and far away from the crowd, this is built on top of the action and thatB次元官网网址檚 what everybody likes, 10 feet away from where theyB次元官网网址檙e playing.B次元官网网址�
The season starts in eight months, but Young said it will be ready for the spring.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e all under pressure now, but we thrive on pressure in Langford anyway,B次元官网网址� he said.
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