FINGERS CROSSED
Cape Breton University submits bids to host 2019, 2020 U Sports National Soccer Championships
CBU submits bids to host national soccer championships in 2019 and 2020.
Cape Breton University has proven its soccer programs are among the best in the country.
Now the school wants to showcase the facilities that helped its teams win championships.
The university recently submitted a pair of bids in an attempt to host the 2019 U Sports Men’s National Soccer Championship, and the 2020 U Sports Women’s National Soccer Championship.
The bids come as both soccer programs were successful in winning medals at the 2017 national events — the men winning the gold and the women taking home the silver.
“We’ve been talking about this for probably two or three years — we thought it was a good opportunity for us to put a bid in for both soccer nationals,” said John Ryan, director of athletics for Cape Breton University.
“The time is right, and with the mandate of our new president (David Dingwall) in terms of trying to attract great national and international events to our community, we thought this was perfect.”
In 2007, the Cape Breton Capers women’s team hosted the national championship and was successful in winning the tournament, defeating the York University Lions 2-1 in the championship game at Veterans’ Memorial Turf in New Waterford.
“We haven’t hosted a national championship since 2007, and since then we have a new complex here — the Cape Breton Health Recreation Complex – which is a top-notch and firstclass facility.
“Both of our programs have been national-calibre programs for a number of years ... it’s a great opportunity to put in a bid and try to bring those national championships to our community.”
The university submitted its bid for the nationals on Sept. 14
with the help of Events Cape Breton and the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
“It’s a strong bid, it looks great and very professional and well done,” said Ryan. “I think these national championships would be a great platform for the university to showcase CBU, our facilities and our students to the rest of the country.”
Last year, the university submitted a bid to host the 2020 U Sports Women’s National Basketball Championships but was unsuccessful in earning the right to host the tournament.
Ryan is confident in the university’s bid for the soccer championships.
“I think our teams being so strong will help us as well,” said
Ryan. “The Capers soccer brand is pretty prominent right now within the soccer community, so we’re hoping that will help us.”
If Cape Breton University is successful in winning its bids, the national tournaments would bring eight teams to the island each year as well as an estimated 240 participants each year, not including fans and students.
Capers men’s head coach Deano Morley believes the bid isn’t only about Cape Breton University.
“This is a Cape Breton Island bid to bring the best of the best to our island and that’s my focus,” said Morley. “It’s a spectacular opportunity to bring people together around the greatest game in the world.”
Morley hopes a successful bid will help grow the game of soccer in Cape Breton.
“If we can bring events like this to the people of Cape Breton and expose children, cultures and people and keep growing the passion for the sport, it’s only an excellent opportunity.”
Capers women’s head coach Stephen (Ness) Timmons is excited about the possibility of hosting the nationals in 2020.
“I was involved in the 2007 team when the nationals were on the island, and every tournament I’ve gone to since then, coaches have asked me when Cape Breton was going to bid for the nationals again,” said Timmons.
“I know we can put on a great show for the student-athletes. For the kids who play in nationals, it’s always a special event and to get to host them in your community, it’s even better.”
Ryan couldn’t confirm the potential cost of hosting the national tournaments, noting a more detailed focus would be put on that aspect once the bid was successful.
The university expects to have a conference call with the U Sports selection committee sometime after Thanksgiving. The tournament hosting rights for both events are expected to be announced at the end of October.
The dates for the 2019 and 2020 tournaments have not been announced.
For now, Cape Breton University will focus its attention on hosting the 2018 Atlantic University Sport men’s and women’s soccer championships, Nov. 1-4, in Sydney.