PDL back in Calgary? .....,maybe!

[Stuart]

Was just down at the Foothills Soccer facility, which I must say is a tremendously impressive establishment, and spoke to Tommy Wheeldon Jr. (The head honcho) and he told me their goals include bringing PDL soccer back to Cowtown and eventually getting a Pro-NASL / USL side to follow.

If anyone can do it these guys can, fingers crossed!

[Tuscan]

Interesting. I know the folks here in Saskatoon have been lying to me for the last many years since WSA Winnipeg have shown up, saying PDL would never look further west due to travel issues. If Calgary goes PDL, I'm sure HUSA Saskatoon won't be far behind them.

[coppercanuck]

Who represents Sask in the Challenge Cup then? HUSA was the uncontested provincial champ in 2012.

[BringBackTheBlizzard]

There's no reason why some of the players and coaches couldn't be involved with both competitions. It happens in London with AEK of WOSL premier and FC London of PDL.

[foreverthursday]

Start from the ground and build up. There is no soccer specific stadium in Calgary, and maybe convince the city to spend five million on a little 5,500 all seater that the Calgary based AMSL teams can play in for a year or two before trying to put the cart before the horse.

Alberta needs to view the AMSL differently as well. We need to treat it the same way we treat the AJHL. Start charging for games, and that includes parking, concessions, alcohol, and merchandise. It is the highest level of club soccer in Alberta, and right now it doesn't even get twenty people to a game. The AMSL falls under Division V in Canada, and it isn't shabby soccer either.

[shermanator]

Start from the ground and build up. There is no soccer specific stadium in Calgary, and maybe convince the city to spend five million on a little 5,500 all seater that the Calgary based AMSL teams can play in for a year or two before trying to put the cart before the horse.

Alberta needs to view the AMSL differently as well. We need to treat it the same way we treat the AJHL. Start charging for games, and that includes parking, concessions, alcohol, and merchandise. It is the highest level of club soccer in Alberta, and right now it doesn't even get twenty people to a game. The AMSL falls under Division V in Canada, and it isn't shabby soccer either.

While any club in Calgary needs a soccer specific stadium, I think that they can play at Foothills Athletic Park in the meantime. Perhaps those who were around during the Storm PDL era could elaborate on whether that would be a good fit?

[Footscray]

PDL would probably be OK there although the travel costs will hurt them, dunno if there's enough there to run a PDL program and not lose money.

Last time's club owners told us that foothills was temporary while they planned and built the stadium and then never did anything except try McMahon.

It passed for PDL I guess but personally if you are asking people to part with their cash to come support a team I don't think foothills is good enough long run. A city with Calgary's wealth and diversity needs better.

To me the venue is 50% of the day out and until there is a little stadium with decent seats and concessions I wouldn't ante up. Though if I recall correctly the big rock beer tents were solid. If they built a little 5,000 seater that was half decent I'd buy seasons at any level even though I'd probably only make half the games.

[Blue and White Army]

PDL would probably be OK there although the travel costs will hurt them, dunno if there's enough there to run a PDL program and not lose money.

No wages are paid in PDL, so that alone makes for a huge savings compared with running a USL Pro / NASL club.

[Lord Bob]

No wages are paid in PDL, so that alone makes for a huge savings compared with running a USL Pro / NASL club.

Yeah, but it's a bus league where the Calgary team would have to fly more than just about anybody.

Thunder Bay makes it work, but Thunder Bay is also fantastically well-supported.

[Free kick]

I hope that whatever shape this takes, that the club ends up (through its aims) addressing the gaps in player development in Canada. I no longer believe that we need more clubs at the upper echellons anymore (eg>; MLS, NASL).

Until there are better players and/or in greater quantity, i don't see the point of anything beyond what is being proposed here for Calgary. Although, i am not yet sure or convince of the value of PDL (itself) so far. But something along those lines is what is needed instead of something that will compete and siphon away already scarce talent from FC Edmonton. A club that hasn't put up much in the "W" column over the past 18 mos.

There is a couple of things that are becoming clearer and clearer now that another world cup cycle has ended in disappointed and that that pro game has been in the spotlight for for now 2-6 year in Canada. And that is that:

1) We don't have much player depth Canada. Just look at the background of some of the players who found themselves on the NT radar after the injuries hit.

2) We don't have players who can influence a game on their own. We still can't score, have no one who is a recognized star beyond the small world of Canadian soccer fans, and no one figure head for the game in Canada.

3) We pro teams at the upper end of whose results and performance negatively correlates with the number of Canadians and playing time of Canadians on their roster

Until we have pro players, what is the point of pro leagues or more pro clubs?

[ThiKu]

I imagine if Calgary had a PDL team then FC Edmonton would probably put their reserves in that competition as well - and in turn you might then see Saskatoon and one or two more northern American teams sign-up.....?? I know it's a short season, but it's a start for a Canadian u23 league isnt it? BC would need to add a u23 on top of Vancouver, Victoria, and Abbotsford though. Maybe two more on top of that.

[canadianfoot]

I imagine if Calgary had a PDL team then FC Edmonton would probably put their reserves in that competition as well - and in turn you might then see Saskatoon and one or two more northern American teams sign-up.....?? I know it's a short season, but it's a start for a Canadian u23 league isnt it? BC would need to add a u23 on top of Vancouver, Victoria, and Abbotsford though. Maybe two more on top of that.

I have to agree with ThiKu sometimes another team can have a "domino" effect. Imagine that Calgary joins the PDL, for FC Edmonton it would only be natural. Kelowna might join in too, they already have a PCSL club. Then you have Victoria Highlanders and Abbotsford, Whitecaps.

-Edmonton

-Calgary

-Victoria

-Vancouver

-Abbotsford

That's 5teams

add to that maybe Kelowna and you will have a great division/league for U23(+ a few overage players). They would be great farms for Whitecaps and Edmonton, in the long run Calgary would figure it out where they stand and if Calgary joins in at level with Edmonton then Victoria would have an easy choice to jump into a higher league themselves. Since travel costs would drop having 2other teams in the province nearby. 6 teams in a x6 round robin format that's 30games per season games to be played on the weekend.

[ThiKu]

Ya, I'd imagine if a u23 western league was created you'd see Okanagan get one in Kelowna or Kamloops certainly. I imagine Surrey, Coquitlam, Richmond, Burnaby, West Van or a combination of those teams would all do their damndest to get a team as well.

[canadianfoot]

Ya, I'd imagine if a u23 western league was created you'd see Okanagan get one in Kelowna or Kamloops certainly. I imagine Surrey, Coquitlam, Richmond, Burnaby, West Van or a combination of those teams would all do their damndest to get a team as well.

I could see Richmond and Surrey have a PDL or U23 team. The rest not soo sure, mind you I haven't seen footy around Coquitlam area that much. While Burnaby is sucked into the Whitecaps it seems to me for now.

[ThiKu]

Not PDL. I am referring to a Western Canada or BC division u23 team in a Canadian-only league.

PDL won't allow anymore teams above Victoria, Whitecaps, and Mariners.

[foreverthursday]

You guys throw out the idea of the PDL like it makes perfect sense. The PDL is a horrible idea for FC Edmonton, and what made you think it was a good one?

The FC Edmonton "reserves" are the same team as the FC Edmonton "academy." That means professional players, not in the first team line-up are playing for the reserves. FC Edmonton should not be thinking of having an U23 Academy team right now, but instead think of maybe getting into the PCSL where they can play competitive matches. Right now they are not really in the AMSL, but play a series of friendlies with that league.

The PDL would be a waste of resources and money for FC Edmonton.

[canadianfoot]

You guys throw out the idea of the PDL like it makes perfect sense. The PDL is a horrible idea for FC Edmonton, and what made you think it was a good one?

The FC Edmonton "reserves" are the same team as the FC Edmonton "academy." That means professional players, not in the first team line-up are playing for the reserves. FC Edmonton should not be thinking of having an U23 Academy team right now, but instead think of maybe getting into the PCSL where they can play competitive matches. Right now they are not really in the AMSL, but play a series of friendlies with that league.

The PDL would be a waste of resources and money for FC Edmonton.

For 1 it is easier to Join something that aldready exists be it PDL or PCSL. On the other hand we aren't even sure the PCSL would like a team to join in that would make travel a little more akward for some teams especially on the less than 50k a year that I read they operate on.

The ultimate goal is not PDL but more of a U23 format league on the West coast.

But before FC Edmonton can say hey let's create a U23 league with X teams in our backyard they need to have a setup already in place.

The Whitecaps would love to have a U23 league that they could "mold" to their liking. I am using that term since the EA Sports sponsored league is for their pure benefit. So would any future league for the West Coast I am sure. If the Caps and FC Edmonton actually wanted a U23 league they can make it happend they have the means (financial and political).

[alberta white]

Personally I like the Idea of a more "Profesional" Provisional set up.

This would be one where the Teams/Clubs reform their Executive bodies along more comercial lines, putting the ethos on running the clubs as Profesional entities. Players would be offered non-salaried benefit based playing contracts (where possible tied to supportive local employers to help offset cost) Player Development rights would be tied to and levied towards the contracted player so that both player and club could benefit from any finacial gain should he turn out to be "Mr Golden boots". In this way the players have a reason to develop and promote themselves along with the organisation.

As for the clubs, municipalities could assist the leading team in their area in finding or developing suitable pitches. Agressive marketing for sponsorship, would be the order of the Day. this could be towards Travel sponsors. Game day sponsors. Ball Sponsors. etc

What about lobbying for some tax exemptions/ credits form Provincial Federal sport development budgets... then again ...maybe not.

In the case of Alberta there are maybe Eight municipalities that could put together Organisations playing out of 1500 to 5000 seater stadiums, perhaps tied to schools or other municipal facilities and organising games for as little as $5. That would be a 14 game season over the summer.

In the case of Alberta...All you would have to do is sell the Idea to ASA.... Ho hum.

[Macksam]

I hope that whatever shape this takes, that the club ends up (through its aims) addressing the gaps in player development in Canada. I no longer believe that we need more clubs at the upper echellons anymore (eg>; MLS, NASL).

Even though more MLS clubs wouldn't help in the immediate future, I think the benefits would be more profound 10-15 years down the line. If we had 6 MLS clubs, the country would have roughly 200 more kids at various age levels getting top of the line training. I'm just saying if I were running the CSA and MLS came to me saying I can sanction three more MLS clubs, I would do it in a heart beat.