The idea of a Canadian womenB次元官网网址檚 professional league was simple, albeit rife with challenges, including coming up with the right name.
On Tuesday, Project 8 turned into the Northern Super League with Ottawa and Montreal joining Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Halifax as the founding franchises slated to kick off in April 2025.
Former Canadian international Diana Matheson, chief executive officer and co-founder of Project 8 along with Thomas Gilbert, unveiled the name and other details about the new league in a speech to the espnW Summit Canada on Tuesday.
Choosing the right name proved to be anything but easy.
B次元官网网址淔or me, it was very difficult,B次元官网网址� Matheson said in an interview. B次元官网网址淯s in the Project 8 office, every spare probably 20 minutes we had over the first 18 months we would just brainstorm on our own B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址楬ey, what should the league name be?B次元官网网址� And never came up with anything good.B次元官网网址�
So they turned to professionals, with Canadian creative agency Broken Heart Love Affair providing the brand and aurora borealis logo.
B次元官网网址淭hey came up with something that I really, really love,B次元官网网址� said Matheson. B次元官网网址淪o I hope Canadians do too.B次元官网网址�
The decision was made not to include women in the league title, even though B次元官网网址渨e are very proudly building for women and by women,B次元官网网址� said Matheson.
B次元官网网址淲e landed on not including it, because at the end of the day what we are building here is going to be an internationally competitive professional soccer league, period,B次元官网网址� she added. B次元官网网址淎nd I think the womenB次元官网网址檚 soccer part of that will speak for itself once we get up and rolling.B次元官网网址�
While there is plenty more work to be done before the first ball is kicked, the new league now has a framework to work off.
B次元官网网址淚 like the runway we have, especially with the group of people we have, B次元官网网址� ThereB次元官网网址檚 a very collaborative approach to building this league from every ownership group,B次元官网网址� said Matheson, who won 206 caps for Canada between 2003 and 2020.
The addition of Ottawa and Montreal fleshes out the initial team roster, bringing the number of franchises to six B次元官网网址� the minimum required for Canada Soccer sanctioning.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 huge,B次元官网网址� said Matheson. B次元官网网址淎t the end of the day, weB次元官网网址檙e in six of the biggest markets across Canada, which weB次元官网网址檙e thrilled about. Ottawa, Montreal specifically have huge girlsB次元官网网址� and womenB次元官网网址檚 soccer communities.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e happy with the representation we have from (the) West Coast to the Maritimes, in Quebec,B次元官网网址� she added. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just the beginning. WeB次元官网网址檒l, of course, still be looking to roll our expansion plans in the next year and talk about when weB次元官网网址檙e adding teams (No.) 7 and 8. But weB次元官网网址檙e really happy with the six teams weB次元官网网址檙e launching with.B次元官网网址�
The Montreal franchise will be spearheaded by QuebecB次元官网网址檚 Isab猫le Chevalier and Jean-Fran莽ois Crevier, who are putting together a group of investors from the business, sports and arts communities.
Ottawa has yet to announce its details.
The new league is owned equally by the clubs, with MathesonB次元官网网址檚 group also holding an ownership share.
Each team will play a 25-game regular-season schedule, facing the other clubs five times. The top four sides will make the post-season with No. 1 playing No. 4 and No. 2 taking on No. 3 in two-legged semifinals, following by a stand-alone championship game.
The league is looking at a $1.5-million initial salary cap for each team, covering rosters numbering 20 to 25. There will be an additional cap on player benefits such as housing and transportation.
Franchises will be allowed up to seven foreign players. The league also allows teams one marquee player, for whom only $75,000 of their salary will count against the cap.
The leagueB次元官网网址檚 founding corporate partners B次元官网网址� Canadian Tire, DoorDash, CIBC and Air Canada B次元官网网址� were previously announced.
B次元官网网址淐ongratulations to everyone involved in the exciting evolution of the newly named Northern Super League,B次元官网网址� Kevin Blue, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 SoccerB次元官网网址檚 CEO and general secretary, said in a statement. B次元官网网址淐anada Soccer remains steadfast in its support for professional womenB次元官网网址檚 soccer in our country, and we will continue to work alongside Diana and the staff to ensure a successful kickoff next April.B次元官网网址�
The governing body, at its recent annual general meeting, approved increases in player registration fees starting in 2025, with a portion going to the new league.
Matheson says it will receive $1 million annually, matching what the governing body has given the menB次元官网网址檚 Canadian Premier League.
B次元官网网址淭he expectation has always been between ourselves and Canada Soccer that Canada Soccer would do the same,B次元官网网址� said Matheson, calling it a B次元官网网址渟ymbol of support.B次元官网网址�
And a sign of equity.
An announcement on the Northern Super LeagueB次元官网网址檚 leadership is expected in June, which should shed more light on what role Matheson and Gilbert will take.
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