FC Edmonton to announce entry into new league

The Canadian Premier League is getting it right.

Still a year away from kicking a ball, the upstart league is already distinguishing itself from other failed attempts at a national professional soccer circuit.

Wednesday, the CPL announced Valour FC, based in Winnipeg, would be a flagship franchise, joining York 9 FC in the Greater Toronto Area, Cavalry FC in Calgary and HFX Wanderers FC of Halifax.

FC Edmonton is jumping on board Friday, hosting a street party in front of the Strathcona Farmers Market (7 p.m.) to make its official announcement.

“It’s very heartwarming to know that this passion we have for the game and this sense of purpose and this sense of a mission we have for the game in Canada is being reflected back to us by the supporters of the game,” said CPL president Paul Beirne. “It’s a really wonderful time.”

The league, in the works for well over a year, officially unveiled its identity and logo six weeks ago. It then began announcing franchises on a weekly basis.

Edmonton will be the CPL’s fifth franchise, with more team announcements expected in the coming weeks. The league will launch its first season next spring.

“It’s a pragmatic approach,” Beirne said. “We announced the league and it just made sense, so that the people in Halifax care about what is happening in Calgary and Edmonton and the people in Edmonton care about what’s happening in York. So to let each of these announcements have a buildup and then a crescendo and then let them breathe for a few days just made a lot of sense to us.

“There was some thought about what time of year to make these announcements and now that the sun is out and people are out more and they ’re kicking a ball more and their kids are playing soccer, we felt like the timing was right for us. And then of course there’s a World Cup about to start, so everybody’s mind is already in the culture of the game anyway.”

FC Edmonton has been on hiatus this season following the decision by the United States Soccer Federation to revoke the Division 2 status of the North American Soccer League. FC Edmonton was an original member of the second incarnation of the NASL, a predominately U.S.-based league, and played in it for seven seasons.

While on hiatus, FC Edmonton saw a strong fan movement urging the club to join the CPL. More than 1,000 supporters are expected at the official launch party Friday.

“These are supporters and fans who have a real vested interest in these team launches,” Beirne said. “The street party is all about that, it’s about a celebration that something has arrived.”

Once a Calgary team was announced, it was only a matter of time before Edmonton followed.

“We talk about the players and we talk about the industry and we talk about the opportunity for the game, but a big part of that is the culture of the game,” Beirne said. “Unleashing support in any one community is great, but having them have a rival to compete with and against, that takes it all to a new level and is a multiplier. Having a close rival is a game-changer for FC Edmonton.”