Langford-based Canadian Premier League club, Pacific FC, is having its inaugural game this weekend, and the opening celebration is unlike anything the area has ever seen, according to the teamB次元官网网址檚 executive vice president of operations.
B次元官网网址淎pril 28 is going to be one of the most exciting days B次元官网网址� not only in Langford B次元官网网址� for Greater Victoria, by having a professional soccer team playing their first game,B次元官网网址� said Brad Norris-Jones.
Tickets are trending toward a sellout, he added.
Gates will open at 1 p.m. for the inaugural game, three hours before kickoff. Performances from Stages Performing Arts & the Military Dixie Land Band will liven up the fans ahead of the match and help carry out celebrations.
ALSO READ: VIDEO: B次元官网网址楽tewie the StarfishB次元官网网址� mascot revealed at Premier League kickoff party
After the match, Towers & Trees and Deep Sea Gypsies are leading a post-game concert and an 18-minute firework show will be capping off the festivities. B次元官网网址淪o it is a full day of activities,B次元官网网址� Norris-Jones said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not sure if the public really understands what we put into this, but itB次元官网网址檚 taken us to near-two months of getting everything in line, from the small details.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 something the community can be really proud of,B次元官网网址� he added. Preparation for the festivities have been underway since Feb. 1.
ALSO READ: Pacific FC to get former Cincinnatti FC player, new goalkeeping coach
The CPL was founded in 2017 as a way to capitalize on the excitement for soccer in North America coming on the heels of growing viewership in professional soccer over recent years. This April marks the new national professional menB次元官网网址檚 soccer leagueB次元官网网址檚 official opening. Seven clubs from five provinces will play for the CPL championship as well as against premier Canadian clubs from other leagues in the Canadian Championship.
Expansions to the Westhills Stadium, which is getting ready to seat 5,000 fans on opening day, with room for an additional 1,000 upon completion of the stands, makes Langford an obvious choice for Pacific FC to call home, Norris-Jones said.
The players themselves are getting settled, said Pacific striker Marcus Haber. B次元官网网址淚 think weB次元官网网址檙e looking sharpB次元官网网址veryoneB次元官网网址檚 counting down the days,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that the mood in the locker room is B次元官网网址渜uite high.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e going to see on opening day that everyoneB次元官网网址檚 gonna be ready to go.B次元官网网址�
ALSO READ: Pacific FC signs 3 new players in past 3 days
Joining a team in its inaugural season, and having to build it from the ground up, is a daunting task that, nonetheless, makes for a chance to do something special.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an exciting opportunity thatB次元官网网址檚 never gonna happen again,B次元官网网址� noted Haber. B次元官网网址淚 think opening day is one that all the players are going to remember for the rest of their lives.B次元官网网址�
The biggest challenge, Haber said, is B次元官网网址渦nderstanding that itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a grindB次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 not going to be easy.B次元官网网址� The sweat and strain involved in a lengthy regular season, which for the club will run until October, is a message the veteran is going to pass down to the younger players, he added. At least for now, the team seems more focused on improving their cohesion and conditioning over whatever the opponent has planned.
B次元官网网址淭he staffB次元官网网址檚 done a good job of managing everyone. And weB次元官网网址檙e going to be firing on all cylinders,B次元官网网址� Haber said.
Pacific FCB次元官网网址檚 inaugural game is set for April 28 at 4 p.m. against the HFX Wanderers at Westhills Stadium.
swikar.oli@goldstreamgazette.com
