USL Bullish On Canada Future
October 29, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1) News Release
TAMPA, FL -- In a country where the national pastime is unquestionably hockey, the summer clearly belongs to soccer as witnessed by the growing success of the sport within United Soccer Leagues over the past six years. Three of the past four USL First Division championships have been won by Canadian clubs for example.
"Canada is whole-heartedly embracing soccer culturally at an incredible level right now and contrary to recent reports that prematurely suggested that we had severed ties with our leading Canadian clubs, we continue to be bullish on our future there," said USL Chief Executive Officer Alec Papadakis. "I had a very positive meeting last week with Peter Montopoli [General Secretary] and Joe Guest [Deputy General Secretary] of the Canadian Soccer Association about how we can work with the federation as well as the teams in growing the game. They are looking forward to our continued expansion in Canada and continued role in the development of the sport for both the men's and women's game."
"We are very excited about professional soccer in Canada," said CSA General Secretary Peter Montopoli. "We are looking to grow the professional level in Canada as part of our long-term plans, building a pathway for soccer development. This requires more professional teams under the right conditions in order to progress."
With 16 professional and amateur teams in the USL First Division, PDL and W-League as well as the 11 clubs participating in the Super Y-League and Super-20 League in 2009, the growth of the sport on a national basis is developing well across Canada.
"With the recent rapid Canadian expansion and the new direction of our new USL ownership group is taking that includes a commitment to working with the teams at all levels, we are planning on opening a full-service Canada USL office in 2010 to work with our teams and the Canadian Soccer Association more closely in continued development of the sport," said Papadakis. "Based on the groups we have met with throughout Canada and the applications that we have received and are reviewing, we will certainly be expanding further over the course of the next few years, whether it be in Ottawa where there have already been public reports regarding specific groups, or in other markets such as Edmonton, Winnipeg or Hamilton to name a few. Furthermore, the expansion efforts will be at all levels and will include an emphasis on the women's game, which we know is of importance to the CSA."
"We are excited to hear of the USL plans," said Montopoli in regards to USL opening a Canadian office.
It is expected that Canadian expansion will be a topic of serious discussion at next week's USL-1 League Owners meeting in Beaverton, Oregon.
Montreal's amazing run to the championship two weeks ago highlights a six-year span in which four USL-1 titles have gone north of the border, along with a PDL championship and two W-League titles. The youth level is also burgeoning with a Super-20 League runners-up finish and two Super Y-League titles, which could grow this November when 22 Canadian teams comprise 16 percent of the field competing for the 10 titles on the line at the SYL North American Finals in Tampa, FL.
And the success on the field is matched off of it, ranging from incredible attendance figures to marked advances in player development programs that are competing in USL development leagues.
"The dedication to the game in every aspect is driving the sport to new heights across the country as we have seen with the success of longstanding flagships like Montreal and Vancouver, who have inspired the lower tier clubs like the Ottawa Fury, Thunder Bay Chill and newcomers Forest City London and Victoria Highlanders."
USL First Division Stories from October 29, 2009
- Pat Ercoli Named Rhinos General Manager - Rochester Rhinos
- USL Bullish On Canada Future - USL-1
- Whitecaps Residency Off To Spain - Vancouver Whitecaps
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