The Canadian Premier League kicks off its sixth season this weekend, still a work in progress but with a sense of stability in most quarters.

Toronto-based York United FC, sold in November after being taken over last April by Canadian Soccer Business (which shares the same ownership as the CPL), has enthusiastic new Mexican owners and all eight clubs enter the season with the same coaches. There seems plenty to build on.

B次元官网网址淪tability is a great word for a young league and thatB次元官网网址檚 where we are,B次元官网网址� said commissioner Mark Noonan. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 stability tied with growth. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the focus.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e in a good place to continue that path,B次元官网网址� he added.

B.C. teams in Langley and Langford are part of what Noonan calls a B次元官网网址渓eague of opportunityB次元官网网址� with 75 per cent of its minutes going to Canadian talent.

The CPL saw five of its clubs separated by just six points, from second to fifth place, in a competitive 2023 season. And the campaign concluded in a doozy of a final that saw defending champion Forge FC win its fourth title in a dramatic 2-1 win over regular-season leader Cavalry FC with all three goals coming in extra time.

Forge coach Bobby Smyrniotis, a constant since Day 1 likes what he sees over the first five years.

B次元官网网址淢ore talent, more players, more ability,B次元官网网址� said Smyrniotis. B次元官网网址淎nd I think thatB次元官网网址檚 going to become more entertaining for all the crowds that are coming B次元官网网址� As long as we keep putting the right product on the field.B次元官网网址�

Noonan says the news was good off the field as well.

B次元官网网址淓very kind of business metric that we measure went in the right direction,B次元官网网址� he said in an interview.

But building a league is a costly, challenging task. Observers got a peek into just how costly when the community-owned Winnipeg Blue Bombers, which operates Valour FC, released its 2023 annual report this week.

Valour, which finished last in the league at 6-14-8, lost on and off the field. Some $1.25 million advanced to the team by the parent Winnipeg Football Club was recorded as a loss B次元官网网址渂ecause there is uncertainty on ValourB次元官网网址檚 ability to repay the loan.B次元官网网址�

In December, Noonan said CPL owners were B次元官网网址減robably $125 million in the holeB次元官网网址� from developing B次元官网网址渁n ecosystem for soccer in Canada that didnB次元官网网址檛 exist.B次元官网网址�

On the plus side, a disagreement with media partner Mediapro Canada that led to legal filings appears to be settled, with OneSoccer once again airing all of the leagueB次元官网网址檚 games.

B次元官网网址淏usiness as usual,B次元官网网址� said Noonan.

The season opens Saturday with Atletico Ottawa hosting York United, Cavalry visiting Forge in a rematch of last yearB次元官网网址檚 championship game and Pacific FC entertaining Halifax Wanderers FC.

On Sunday, itB次元官网网址檚 Valour at Vancouver FC.

There are two trophies up for grabs with the CPL Shield going to the team that finishes first in the regular-season standings and the North Star Cup to the last team standing in the playoffs. Both come with berths in the CONCACAF ChampionsB次元官网网址� Cup, the confederationB次元官网网址檚 elite club competition.

Forge is looking for a three-peat. Smyrniotis knows it will take supreme effort.

B次元官网网址淚 think one of the most difficult things in sport is keep on winning in a salary-cap league,B次元官网网址� he said.

Atletico Ottawa has restocked its roster after finishing sixth last season at 10-12-6, missing the post-season by just two points. Additions include defenders Amer Didi膰 and Jonathan Grant, midfielders Manny Aparicio and Aboubacar Sissoko and forward Ballou Tabla.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a completely new team,B次元官网网址� said coach Carlos Gonzalez. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e trying to blend them into a good team, a great team together.B次元官网网址�

Game Plan Sports Group, led by Mexican brothers Eduardo, Miguel and Ricardo Pasquel, now own York, the second franchise with foreign ownership. Ottawa is part of Atletico MadridB次元官网网址檚 worldwide network of clubs.

B次元官网网址淭his is the worldB次元官网网址檚 game,B次元官网网址� said Noonan. B次元官网网址淎nd bringing in a group like the Pasquel brothers and all their connections opens up a great new window for us in a lot of ways B次元官网网址� CPL is now on the radar in Mexico.B次元官网网址�

And elsewhere. The CPL is shown in 35 countries with plans to grow that coverage.

As for expansion, Noonan says there are 15 groups interested in a CPL franchise on non-disclosure agreements. But Noonan says the league wonB次元官网网址檛 add teams until they tick all the necessary boxes.

He expects the league to likely remain at eight teams in 2025 and look to expand in 2026.

B次元官网网址淏ut IB次元官网网址檓 bullish on expansion. We will double the size of this league in the next decade or so. But we have to do it smartly, B次元官网网址� he added.

The league implemented an B次元官网网址渆xceptional young talentB次元官网网址� designation last season, allowing teams to sign two additional under-18 domestic players who donB次元官网网址檛 count against the salary cap or roster number.

Vancouver FC took advantage of that last season to sign T.J. Tahid and James Cameron, both of whom went on to represent Canada at the youth level.

This yearB次元官网网址檚 phenom is 16-year-old Grady McDonnell, who was 15 when he signed with Vancouver in January. He is on a regular three-year pro deal.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not going out and buy Lionel Messi. But we might develop him,B次元官网网址� said Noonan. B次元官网网址淎nd thatB次元官网网址檚 what is really exciting. ItB次元官网网址檚 a good reason to come to the matches, to see this next generation of players that are going to start coming up through our league.B次元官网网址�

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