Langford-based Canadian Premier League club, Pacific FC, is having its inaugural game Sunday at 4 p.m. against the HFX Wanderers at Westhills Stadium in Langford, and fans are anticipating a day full of non-stop excitement.
Tickets for the game sold out on Thursday afternoon with some standing room tickets left.
The game is a memorable one for Vancouver Island, with a brand new league, a brand new team and an expanded stadium.
Gates for today's first-ever game open at 1pm at Westhills! Kickoff is set for 4pm, sharp.
B次元官网网址� Pacific FC (@Pacificfccpl)
Game Day Info:
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. In current Canadian professional sports coast-to-coast match ups are non-existent. In fact, itB次元官网网址檚 the third furthest distance in professional soccer for two teams to play each other in the world.
B次元官网网址淥ur 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 canB次元官网网址檛 wait to see the boys out there competing,B次元官网网址� said Michael Silberbauer, Head Coach, Pacific FC. B次元官网网址淚t is an exciting time for our club and for soccer in Canada in general.B次元官网网址�
It's game day vs. !
B次元官网网址� Pacific FC (@Pacificfccpl)
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Brad Norris-Jones, the teamB次元官网网址檚 executive vice president of operations, says Sunday will be one of the most exciting days for Langford and all of Greater Victoria.
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.
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.
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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�
The team roster includes:
Forwards: Marcus Haber, Terran Campbell, Issey Nakajima-Farran
Midfield: Ben Fisk, Victor Blasco, Jos茅 Hernandez, Noah Verhoeven, Alessandro Hojabrpour
Defenders: Hendrik Starostzik, Lukas MacNaughton, Matthew Baldisimo, Kadin Chung, Blake Smith, Ryan McCurdy, 脡mile Legault
Goalkeepers: Mark Village, Nolan Wirth
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