Luis_Rancagua Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 I think this scheme is all part of the Western expansion of the CSL or probably expansion into the USL. I'm curious to know if any further Quebec teams will be joing the CSL. ------------------------------------------ Winnipeg groups look at pro soccer for city Jerrad Peters Updated: October 25, 2008 at 11:02 AM CDT Remember the Winnipeg Fury? What heady days those were. It’s easy to forget, but the now defunct professional soccer team once included the likes of Canadian international goalkeeper Pat Onstad, national team scoring ace Carlo Corazzin and former Winnipeg Blue Bombers place-kicker Troy Westwood. In 1992, the Fury captured the Canadian Soccer League title. Only the Winnipeg Goldeyes (1994) have won a professional sports championship for the city in the 16 years since. Given the renewed interest in reviving professional soccer in Winnipeg – not to mention the disappointing performances of both the Bombers and Goldeyes – a local soccer club might be the city’s best shot at a championship in the next few years. The Free Press has learned that at least three separate groups of investors are hoping to bring professional soccer back to Winnipeg by the start of the 2010 season. Whether they are admitted into the CSL or United Soccer League remains the only question. “There have been a couple of serious inquiries regarding a CSL team in Winnipeg,” confirmed league commissioner Cary Kaplan. “Some former Winnipeg Fury executives are involved in discussions.” The CSL’s expansion strategy calls for the introduction of a handful of franchises in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Alberta and British Columbia by May, 2010. The league currently operates 11 clubs between Ontario and Quebec. One of the investors is working with local consulting firm Hobbs International and has already been in talks with the USL – the same circuit that features the Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact. “They want Winnipeg,” he told the Free Press. “Winnipeg will have pro soccer here again.” While two of the interested parties would be paying a franchise fee with private funds, one is contemplating the viability of public ownership. By selling 25,000 club memberships for $100 apiece, the group would raise $2.5million to hold in trust for start-up costs and operating expenses. “Once our 25,000 member goal has been reached,” said a spokesman for the group, “we [will] vote on which league we enter… whether it be the USL or CSL.” As Winnipeggers can attest, private ownership has its drawbacks. But with three potential ownership groups in the mix, a best-case scenario would see the two leagues go head-to-head in an attempt to sway a buyer and set up shop in the city. Kaplan remains optimistic that the CSL will be the first to tap Winnipeg’s potentially lucrative soccer market. And he’s not wasting any time in moving forward. “We will be having a conference call with a number of these individuals [this] week,” he said. “It is safe to say, Winnipeg would be included in any CSL expansion to a Western division.” http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/story/4241860p-4884887c.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 Hopefully they won't suck up to the americans and stick to a Canadian league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VPjr Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 Luis, its my understanding that further CSL expansion into Quebec is unlikely in the short term, unless Saputo decides to allow it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luis_Rancagua Posted October 25, 2008 Author Share Posted October 25, 2008 quote:Originally posted by VPjr Luis, its my understanding that further CSL expansion into Quebec is unlikely in the short term, unless Saputo decides to allow it. Saputo is doing serious damage here. He has to open up to a national system in order to expand and develop talent at the amateur/semi-pro level. He's shooting himself on the foot, I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masster Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 Wow. Great news. I would love for a Winnipeg franchise to come to Swangard for a game against the Caps in 2010. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamiltonfan Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 Winnepeg is a USL1 market. There is no reason why a USL1 team and CSL team cant work in the peg. The CSL team would be part of a whole western expansion, look how manyy semi-pro, pro football teams there are in toronto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luis_Rancagua Posted October 26, 2008 Author Share Posted October 26, 2008 It would be nice if CSL Commissioner Cary Kaplan could provide us with an outline pertaining to future expansion of the league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wpgscrfan Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 USL1 is a pipedream for Winnipeg. Keep in mind, the Winnipeg Alliance (CMISL gong show) couldn't survive on an operating budget which involved travel to Saskatoon, Calgary and Edmonton. The $2.5-mln public ownership fee would evaportate in 2 - 3 years and the team would be toast before the end of season 3. You need a Saputo or Kerfoot in Winnipeg - an investor (with vast amounts of cash to burn) who is willing and able to bleed money for 5 - 8 years. Unless this is the type of owner in discussions with the USL - then forget it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSL Commissioner Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 Luis, Thank you for your question. For 2009, the plan currently is to add between 1-3 teams in Ontario. (for a total of 12-14) Groups in Hamilton, Niagara Falls, Kitchener, Korea (Intl), Africa (Intl) have all expressed various levels on interest. Details will be revealed by the AGM in February 2009. For 2010, while we plan to continue growth in Ontario, and perhaps Quebec, we would ideally like to add a six team Western division. There have been a number of perliminary discussions, with several groups. Six teams is a magic number, and the teams would come from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The Western Division would not play against the Ontario or Quebec teams except for the later stages of the playoffs. Hope this helps clarify somewhat. Cary Kaplan CSL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speed Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 Cary, Good work with the CSL this year. Just a quick question, I'm a player from Ireland playing semi-pro here, and hoping to come over to CSL for the 2009 season. Would you have any on these 'new' teams joining from Ontario's email addresses? If so could you please pm me them or post them here. Also if you could help me getting in contact with Portugal FC, Brampton Lions, Italia and all the teams in Toronto area, that would be fantastic because all the clubs emails on the website all seem to be computer generated emails, and I am not getting any replys. The only coach that got back to me was Astros. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket Robin Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 http://web.mlsnet.com/players/bio.jsp?team=t280&player=kehoe_eddie Speed. Here's the bio of Eddie Kehoe...another goalkeeper from Ireland. He played for the North York Astros for about a year when they were terrible. Now he's the goalkeeping coach for Toronto FC of the MLS. Maybe worth an e-mail to him to ask advice to break into Canadian soccer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fort York Redcoat1555362293 Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 Well I hope Winnipeg gets the USL1 spot that Montreal or Vancouver leaves behind when they move to MLS. At least I'd want to see Winnipeg in PDL vs Thunder Bay. Good Luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speed Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 Thanks for the reply Robin, That would be great if I could contact him, but i cant seem to find a email address for him on the website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 ^ Why don't you just show up here and start talking with everybody in person. You'll have to pay for your own accommodations anyway, so you might as well wait till you're here and deal with the right people on a one to one basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speed Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 I'd like to have a couple of, well at least one trial set up, before I come over. If I came over and didn't get a trial, then I would be in a bit of a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket Robin Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 http://web.mlsnet.com/t280/about/meet_us/ this is really the office staff but I get the idea that most of the e-mail addresses for staff are first initial, last name @torontofc.ca so try ekehoe@torontofc.ca and see if your mail bounces back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VPjr Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 quote:Originally posted by Speed I'd like to have a couple of, well at least one trial set up, before I come over. If I came over and didn't get a trial, then I would be in a bit of a problem. very few teams in CSL are in a position where they would deny anyone a trial. If you are in town during the pre-season period, I'm sure you'd be able to get a bunch of trials. Its not really THAT formal. Most of the coaches, from what I'm told, are pretty accomodating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speed Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Cheers for the replies Vpjr and Robin, must appreciated. So you could just turn up for pre-season and ask for a trial? With all the money I would be spending to get there, I really would love for 2/3 clubs know to that I'm coming and been offered a trial. I just cant seem to find any teams coachs legit emails, only Astro's Carbajal got back to me. Does anyone know of clubs that actually have real 100% foreigners, by that I mean, players that have no relations or connections in Canada, because most of the foreign players i've read about in the CSL, are from Canada, just born abroad etc... E.G Go Nakaogka and Jon Hurtis, Japanese and French players, but it says on the website there from local towns... Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 ^ Those are legit foreigner players, they came to Canada to play for the Astros and Happy Hall was an other one of those players. So the Astros had 3 players, Portugal I think had 4, Croatia had 1 or 2. All those players are going back home soon, now that the season its over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speed Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Oh really? Its just that on the website says there hometown was north york, brampton etc ... thanks for clearing that up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarnCherry Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 quote:Originally posted by VPjr Luis, its my understanding that further CSL expansion into Quebec is unlikely in the short term, unless Saputo decides to allow it. How does Saputo have any say in the matter? He has USL-1 rights for Quebec, he has no rights to stop any other league teams from starting up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VPjr Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 quote:Originally posted by Krammerhead How does Saputo have any say in the matter? He has USL-1 rights for Quebec, he has no rights to stop any other league teams from starting up. Saputo has alot of control over the Quebec Soccer Federation. What Suputo wants, Saputo gets. It might sound overly simplistic but I've been told by numerous different people that this is the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnipeg Fury Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Conference call is today............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VPjr Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 quote:Originally posted by Winnipeg Fury Conference call is today............ are you listening in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnipeg Fury Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Yes, I was in. I can't say too much, but there was interest from Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Saskatoon and Winnipeg. Some of the cities had a number of interested parties. They are looking at 2010. Rumour has it that the CSL will be expanding by two more teams in Ontario for next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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