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Canadian Premier League: The Story So Far

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I've attempted to put together every piece of "news" on CPL that has come out over the last few years, collected from the Voyageurs forum, reddit, twitter, and good old google. I've attempted to just post who said what and when they said it, but everyone has an inbuilt bias, so the presentation of the list may reflect that. Any analysis, summary, or opinion pieces have been left out. Feel free to point out anything I missed, I'll try to add it to the list

 

  • November 16, 2010 – Rollins reports that the CSA voted unanimously to place a moratorium on future D2 and D4 expansion by American leagues, effective until September 30, 2011, to allow exploration of Canada-based leagues (League1 Ontario, PLSQ resulted from this in 2012 & 2013).

    http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/index.php?/page/articles.html/_/24th-minute/csa-puts-brakes-on-future-d2-sanctioning-in-us-leagues-r401

  • February 4, 2013 – The Easton Report released

    https://issuu.com/rethinkmanagementgroup/docs/phase_i___ii_summary/1?e=6798688/3589027

  • June 6, 2013 – Bob Young and Victor Montagliani interviewed by the Hamilton Spectator regarding a new vision for Canadian soccer. They report that Young is willing to take the main leadership role, and they are feeling out potential partners for the league, some of which are CFL ownership groups, though not all. “We have not talked to the CFL as a league, only individuals associated with the CFL. We have also talked with individuals not associated with the CFL.” “We are talking with anybody, really, in this country that has a stadium.” At this point, several business models are being considered, one of which is a “league” that is a division within NASL. “It might not be a Division II league, it might be a Canadian league.”

    http://www.thespec.com/sports-story/3412498-ticats-involved-in-early-days-of-new-vision-for-canadian-soccer/

  • May 7, 2014 - The Ticats release a hype video about professional soccer in Hamilton

  • June 10, 2014 – Duane Rollins “confirms” NASL and CFL are in talks with NASL to create an all-Canadian affiliated with NASL, with a target of 2016.

    http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/index.php?/page/articles.html/_/24th-minute/csa-cfl-and-nasl-to-launch-canadian-league-r4701

  • June 18, 2014 – Steven Sandor interviews Victor Montagliani regarding his vision for CPL. “An all-Canadian league. Division one, not two or three or four” that “co-exists with MLS and NASL” and was not dependent on a World Cup bid.

    http://the11.ca/montaglianis-vision-a-canadian-division-1a-that-coexists-with-mls-nasl-2/

  • June???, 2014 – Rollins posts some information in a thread on the Red Patch Boys forum. Actual citation is within V board discussion. 

    “the story/rumour i have heard includes the CFL, their owners and their stadia. Spearheaded by Bob Young of Hamilton, the idea of creating a canadian soccer league, complete with single ownership structure (league owns player contracts mls style etc). Just one step down from mls. More like a canadian nasl without the nasl free for all on players. TSN is driving it from a content need since they have lost so much to rogers. The existing CFL group can piggy back on so much infrastructure that others can not to manage costs, the CSA is favourable and continues to block US based leagues from bringning teams to Canada. A mostly summer league so players can come in after mls has started and wrap up mid Oct.. I was also told that MLSE is one of the drivers trying to create valuable content for TSN to pay for.

    I have heard this from a CFL source and privately from a broadcaster. I have been trying to get more details over the last week but so far no luck. All the good soccer media are preoccupied."

  • July 7, 2015 – Rollins citing CSA sources state that they are targeting a 2017 launch after delays. Ownership is pegged as “significant CFL involvement and at least one NHL owner”. CSA insider pegging team budgets to be ~3 million per year, with a 1 – 1.5 million dollar cap. High domestic quota indicated. 8 teams involved, though no confirmation on which cities. Investors feel it is important to find investors for the 3 MLS markets.

    http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/index.php?/page/articles.html/_/24th-minute/canadian-league-update-oh-and-floro-talks-gold-cup-sort-of-r5340

  • July 31, 2015 – John Pugh interview with Josh Lemoine. Pugh seems supportive of a CPL idea but is cautious and non-committal. 

    http://apt613.ca/q-a-with-fury-president-john-pugh-the-man-who-brought-professional-soccer-to-ottawa/

  • July 31, 2015 – Rollins reiterates the league is targeting 2017 launch. States that markets involved are Vancouver, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, and Montreal. Edmonton is not involved at this point, though discussions to bring them on board is ongoing, though the Fury may be more amenable. Characterizes CPL as “the Welsh model” of D1. League has been delayed to give time to bring the NASL sides on board. In the comments mentions that there had been some activity with the T

    http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/index.php?/page/articles.html/_/24th-minute/c-league-cities-r5374

  • August 2015 – Barton Battalion join twitter.

  • August 28, 2015 – Interview with NASL President Bill Peterson in the Ottawa Sun shows a large shift in attitude, with Peterson confirming that interest from Canadian ownership groups in NASL has evaporated (link broken). In a later interview with a Cosmos podcast (also can’t find the link) Peterson states that there were prior negotiations with NASL to make a Canadian NASL division but negotiations had broken off.

     

  • September 10, 2015 – Interview with Marc Dos Santos with Charles Sandor. Is very critical of the idea of CPL, believing that it would be 10 semi-pro teams + FC Edmonton and Ottawa Fury. Not necessarily clear, but demonstrates that the Fury (or at least not all of the Fury staff as of fall 2015) were on board with the CPL idea.

    http://the11.ca/marc-dos-santos-q-and-a-ottawa-fury-coach-on-the-seasons-turning-point-playing-canadians-and-his-thoughts-on-cpl-rumours-2/

  • November 8, 2015 – Rollins tweets that Ottawa is on board https://twitter.com/24thminute/status/663485231865966592

  • November???, 2015 – Montagliani has a noncommittal interview on TSN about CPL

    http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3d97xj_the-growth-of-canadian-soccer-with-csa-president-victor-montagliani_sport

  • November 11, 2015 – Montagliani interviewed by Totera. Confirms the CSA had been working on CPL for two years but has very few details. Partial transcript here: http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/index.php?/page/articles.html/_/24th-minute/csa-confirms-c-league-plans-r5488. Rollins also added that CSA sources reported that the league was delayed by the lack of an investor for the Toronto or Vancouver markets

  • December 31, 2015 – Squizz interview with Montagliani. “We want to give us the best opportunity for that to come to fruition, which is why we haven’t rushed to making any assumptions. We want to make sure we’ve dotted every “i” and crossed every “t” in terms of the best model moving forward for this country, from a feasibility standpoint, from a business model standpoint.

    We’re continuing our due diligence in that. We’ve talked to the various ownership groups that would be interested—actually, more than just interested—so what we want to do is, I think, 2016 we’ll be in a position to go public with more details and even have more of a date going forward, in terms of when we would start.

    But it’s something that I think is very important because it’s something that is needed in this country. I think relying on five teams to carry the load of player development in a country like ours is asking a lot of those guys. I think they do more than their fair share, quite frankly; we need to help out that equation in terms of finding more expressions of professional football in this country”

    http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/12/31/canadian-soccer-association-president-victor-montagliani-assesses-program-after-very

  • January 4, 2016 – Rollins tweets that the league will be referred to as the Canadian Premier League. Later notes that there are 6 committed franchises, but no Edmonton, Vancouver, or Toronto. Winnipeg Jets/Manitoba Moose owners True North Sports and Entertainment added to the list of potential owners

     

  • February 6, 2016 – Hamilton Spectator article on John McGrane representing Bob Young in front of Hamilton City Council to request permission to winterize Tim Hortons Field to enable an academy for a professional soccer team in Hamilton. McGrane states that the team will play in the “Canadian Premier League,” which will feature 6-8 teams with a mix of CFL and NHL ownership groups. Launch targeted at 2018. League office in Hamilton. Supported by scanned letters to Hamilton City Council from Bob Young and Victor Montagliani. Second link is the letters

    http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6261090-milton-pro-soccer-team-for-city-sees-dome-at-ticat-field/

    http://hamilton.siretechnologies.com/sirepub/agdocs.aspx?doctype=agenda&itemid=10912

  • February 2016 – In a crucial development, GuillermoDelQuatro starts designing fantasy CPL logos ☺️

  • February 9, 2016 – Duane Rollins comes on the V boards to post some clarifications:

    “- The figure of $1.5m has been suggested to me from start, but I've had conflicting suggestions on whether that's a salary budget, or TOTAL budget (including coaches, administration, etc). Goal is to be about NASL level as quickly as possible and salaries will reflect that (I was told NASL salaries are about $1m-$1.5m per team, with Cosmos much higher). Personally, I think it will launch at an upper USL level, which is fine.

    -They may agree to launch at lower than 75% domestic, but they will work towards that. Realistically the 25% international spots will have a lot of young CONCACAF players.

    - I don't believe there will be a college draft. Like NASL/stand alone USL teams un-drafted/cut players from MLS camps will be free to negotiate with individual teams. 

    - Structure will likely be a hybrid between MLS single entity and a total free market approach -- think revenue sharing, but not central control over contracts. 

    -- Most important aspect to me that few talk about is a requirement that all teams have an academy. That is where real development will take place. The CanPL teams themselves will be finishing school. 

    -- There will be an emphasis on selling talent up. That's a big part of how investors convinced to lose money for first few (several?) years. 

    - They still say 2017. I think 2018 more realistic. Better to delay a year than start before ready.

    - On personal level: Sorry for those who were "sick" of me talking about how I was right. Couple things though: Many weren't accusing my sources of being wrong/not having full information. No, they were suggesting I was lying -- making the whole thing up. Beyond the fact that I've been doing this since 2008 and I can point to a history of solid reporting on these issues (not perfect, no, but no one is and the misses haunt me more than anyone else), I can't get past this point: Why in hell would I do that? The glory and fame of being the guy talking about the Canadian league first? Also, you know I'm one of you right? I would never, ever mislead this community on this because I know how important it is to people that it happen. I know how unfair it would be to be given false hope. I sat on the news for almost a month when I first was told because I wanted to make damn sure it was real. So, trust me when I say, I've never reported anything I didn't believe to be true at the time I reported it. I'm sure there will be differences to the final product we see either through my not having full information or through changes in the planning, but the core points that I reported on in 2014 have all been confirmed by the Spectator report -- Bob Young, 6-8 teams, CFL money involved. I am not going to apologize for being proud of that, nor for defending idea that I was first reporting it in the days ahead when the Spectator inevitably gets that credit.  

    -Oh, and for the record, "C-League" was never a real thing. I chose to use that name so it was clear what I was talking about and because I knew actual name would be different. For record I like Can-PL because it has "Can" in it.”

  • February 16, 2016 – Kurt Larson interview with Montagliani. States that they did a “report” (Easton or Easton 2.0?) and are now planning the business model. Repeats that there is a mix of CFL and NHL ownership. Target date is 2018. Not mutually exclusive to MLS. However, Larson stated that another “MLS Source” (My opinion: obviously MLSE) were very disappointed by the lack of inclusion in the discussion. Finally, in contrast to prior reports, Montagliani implied that Ottawa were not on board, instead saying that “the door is still open” for them.

    http://www.torontosun.com/2016/02/16/montagliani-has-a-mountain-to-climb

  • Feb 25 - Had something written here but can't find it anymore

  • March 2, 2016 – WSA Winnipeg’s twitter posts this picture, some people see it as a real indication of what the league will look like. Not corroborated by any sources

    https://mobile.twitter.com/WSAWinnipeg/status/705162960314855425

  • March 10, 2016 – Gavin Day reporting on an interview with Montagliani by Yahoo Sports Canada. Montagliani says that the business plan is being formed over the next 3-6 months, and the goal is to have a formal announcement by the end of 2016.

    https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/eh-game/-canadared-soccer-weekly--new-canadian-league-nears-critical--rubber-hits-the-road--stage-182458579.html

  • April 28, 2016 – In an interview between Montagliani and Totera, Montagliani states that the business plan will be voted on in the fall.

    http://www.nextsportstar.com/index.php/show/red-card-april-28-2016/

  • May 2016 to September 2016 – Series of odd and somewhat revealing posts on the Voyageurs forums from a user called Futballer. The whole of idea of two competing groups (CPL in Hamilton, CNSL with Futballer) emerge. Claims to have international investors.

    http://www.thevoyageurs.org/forums/topic/29031-canadian-premier-league/?page=55

  • May 16, 2016 – Rod Pederson relayed a report from Simon Fudge that Regina will have a team in CPL. Very loose source, nothing solid suggesting if this was the Hamilton group or the Futballer group. Investors from “outside Regina”, not the Riders organization. Rob Notenboom commented that he listened to the actual Simon Fudge interview (I cannot find the original source) and said that there was no mention that the investor was from outside of Regina.

    http://www.rodpedersen.com/2016/05/the-monday-morning-goalie_15.html

  • May 30, 2016 -  Interview with Rob Notenboom and the founder of the Barton Street Battalion. The members of the BSB clearly have a decent amount of info from the TiCats from this point onwards, but only divulge a small portion

    http://www.rednationonline.ca/Podcasts2015/FromtheBlackHoleEpisode78JamesHutton.aspx

  • June 9, 2016 – Carlos Verde (former media intern with the Ottawa Fury) sends out a tweet with a list of 8 teams he believes will be at launch for CPL: Victoria, Edmonton, Calgary, Hamilton, GTA, Quebec, a Maritime team

    https://twitter.com/Carlos77Verde/status/740766554426638338

  • June 14, 2016 -  Matt Rooney article recapping previous rumours and adds that there is a labour day vote scheduled and speculates a formal announcement likely scheduled for the Grey Cup weekend

    http://www.rednationonline.ca/Articles2016/RecentCPLreportsconcerning.aspx

  • September 2016 -  Hamilton fan survey http://timhortonsfield.com/hamiltonsoccer

  • September 1, 2016 -  FuryFanatic tweeted that the Ottawa Fury were leaving NASL for USL. Adds confusion as to whether or not they are interested in CPL, or if CPL is a USL division.

  • September 8, 2016 – Totera reporting that “sources” confirming that the “first phase” of the CPL has a target date of 2018

  • September 14, 2016 – Canada Soccer announces via twitter that they are committed to the CanPL project and are pleased with the progress

    https://twitter.com/CanadaSoccerEN/status/776122052608569344

  • September 13, 2016 – Matthew Hall’s article in the Guardian released, which mainly focused on Montagliani’s frustration with USSF in regards to domestic rule problems. Small mention of CPL, which Montagliani said was coming “within 5 years”

    https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/sep/05/concacaf-president-vincent-montagliani-interview-fifa-corruption

  • September 14, 2016 – Montagliani does an interview on TSN an interview on TSN 1040, representing the first real foray into the mainstream media. Said board is completely behind the project but cannot make any formal announcements yet “out of respect for those involved.” Plan is to launch 2018 and is hopeful the timeline will be hit.

    https://soundcloud.com/tsn-radio-vancouver/victor-montagliani-we-need-to-build-on-what-weve-established-but-with-a-new-voice?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=twitter

  • September 14, 2016 – Canada Soccer tweets that they are committed to the CPL project and are pleased with the progress.

    https://mobile.twitter.com/CanadaSoccerEN/status/776122052608569344

  • September 14, 2016 – Totera tweets that his sources state that CPL will have an MLS-like business model

    https://twitter.com/4totera/status/776228654099664896

  • September 15, 2016 – Montagliani interviewed on Sportsnet Fan 590. Very similar points as his Sept 14 interview, though states the league will be “within 5 years.” Also mentioned that “cross border solutions” remain on the table Unclear what the reason for the different timeline is in this interview (Cannot find link)

  • September 18, 2016 -  Kurt Larson tweets that MLSE and the CSA would be meeting regarding CPL within a month

    https://twitter.com/KurtLarSUN/status/777946039730921472

  • September 19, 2016 – Larson’s followup article. Stresses that MLSE does not see CPL as a competitor, they want to be involved, and would put TFC II or their U20 team in it. Manning muses if CPL could be a USL division.

    http://www.torontosun.com/2016/09/19/mls-crunches-the-numbers-and-takes-away-tfcs-x

  • September 21, 2016 – Steven Sandor opinion piece, mostly on his opinion on a USL division version of the league. The actual information in this article is the tidbit acknowledging that there were 2 competing CPL/CNSL groups, corroborating the Futballer vs Hamilton points in May

    http://the11.ca/reserve-teams-in-canpl-thanks-but-no-thanks/

  • September 21, 2016 – Rollins fuels rumours by implying there is a billionaire ownership group interested in a Toronto franchise https://twitter.com/24thminute/status/778722557725777922

  • September 30, 2016 – CPL, The CPL, Premiere Ligue, Premier League Cnadienne, Hamilton Steelers, and Hamilton United trademarked by someone at the same address as the Hamilton TiCats.

    http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/trdmrks/srch/vwTrdmrk.do?lang=eng&status=&fileNumber=1802327&extension=0&startingDocumentIndexOnPage=1

  • October 13, 2016 - Dino Rossi interview with Rollins/Laramee. Small focus on CPL late in the interview. Rossi says he isn't sure that all CPL clubs will have academies at launch, stresses he thinks partnerships with L1O can help bridge the gap for teams in the intervening years. Long term he hopes that a distinct path of OPDL -> L1O -> CPL will be in place, with L1O having a good chunk of the best 17-23 year olds. The idea of copying major junior hockey is key in his mind.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWJ1BaSEIqs&feature=youtu.be

     

  • October 14, 2016 – CBC notes the of the trademarking of CPL/Steelers/etc. Also notes that the TiCats lose their exclusive rights to Tim Hortons field if a team is not fielded by March 2018.http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/soccer-names-1.3805030

  • October 18, 2016 – News that Ottawa is leaving NASL is further corroborated

    https://twitter.com/ByNeilMorris/status/788437553225539585

  • October 18, 2016 – Soccer Night in Canada is trademarked, sparking speculation that it is related to CPL. It is later broken by Rollins and Laramee that it is in fact related to TSN dropping MLS broadcasting rights and CBC picking them up.

    http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/trdmrks/srch/vwTrdmrk.do?lang=eng&status=&fileNumber=1803663&extension=0&startingDocumentIndexOnPage=1

  • October 20, 2016 – Larson tweets that TFC feels confident it will be a participant in CPL

    https://twitter.com/KurtLarSUN/status/789122807477272576

  • October 20, 2016 – Totera stating that his “sources” have told him that there would be no II or B teams in CPL

    https://twitter.com/4totera/status/789151989649272832

  • October 24, 2016 – FuryFanatic tweets that he can’t see the Fury joining CPL at launch unless CPL is a division of USL, given what he’s been told

    https://twitter.com/FuryFanatic/status/790531231347830784

  • October 25, 2016 – Ottawa Fury announce exit from NASL. Further spurs debate if CPL will be a USL division or if Ottawa has fully departed from the CPL plan.

    http://ottawacitizen.com/sports/soccer/ottawa-fury-exiting-nasl?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook

  • October 25, 2016 – Amid rumours that FC Edmonton were also exiting NASL for USL, Sandor responds with brief article outlining that Tom Fath guarantees FC Edmonton will not join USL

    http://the11.ca/rowdies-fury-moving-to-usl-zero-chance-that-fc-edmonton-would-follow/

  • October 25, 2016 – Rollins with a series of tweets. All the tweets are in quick succession, so I’ll only cite the first. “I’ve been told that the CSA has been kept informed of Ottawa’s plans and they likely will be approved to move with conditions. Conditions are likely the same domestic quota that the MLS@ teams currently operating with, VCup might be off table but not clear. Was stressed to me that the allowing of Fury into USL has no impact whatsoever on #CanPL planning or timetable. I reached out to CSA but not holding breath on a quick response. If I’m surprised I’ll immediately report it."

    https://twitter.com/24thminute/status/791005273595011072

  • October 25, 2016 – Rollins separately tweets “The CanPL will NOT be a USL division and anyone suggesting that likely has an agenda”

    https://twitter.com/24thminute/status/790996725427236868

  • October 25, 2016 – Finally, Rollins tweets that Ottawa is a targeted market, and that he is unsure if OSEG is the only ownership option

    https://twitter.com/24thminute/status/791008938196172800

  • October 25, 2016 - Kurt Larson tweets that he's "guessing TFC would want TFC II in CPL and Ottawa Fury as its USL affiliate if it had its way." (My opinion: Larson doesn't understand that not everyone is interested in being a TFC vassal or cheer for a TFC vassal. This isn't really news either, but for the sake of balance, I'm including whatever Larson says about CPL)
  • October 26, 2016 - Dino Rossi in response to the question as to whether or not CPL will be a USL division. "NO truth to that. None...Nada" https://twitter.com/_VPjr_/status/791144865195257857
  • October 26, 2016 - FuryFanatic posts quote from the Ottawa Sun regarding comments Pugh had made regarding CPL and the USL move. "There still exists a goal, which has been stated by the Canadian Soccer Association, which is to have a national league in the near future. At the moment, there is no high-level Canadian professional soccer league. If one was established and it was good for our fans and franchise, we would take a look at it.  Right now, it is impossible to say. https://twitter.com/FuryFanatic/status/791100388158148609
  • Steve Sandor interviewed by Rollins and Laramee on Soccer Today. Not a great deal of new info that wasn't released on the 25th, but reiteration that the Fury moving to USL is dependent on CSA approval, though that is likely to go through. Sandor also states that he called Fath yesterday to ask if Edmonton was going to the USL, and Sandor said that Fath "laughed and said zero chance". Also says the Faths are unenthusiastic about CPL, and Edmonton are still holding out hope that a Calgary team may still one day be interested in Calgary and save the idea of FC Edmonton. Later in the podcast Rollins mentions that he has expressed frustration with his CSA sources about the lack of an announcement, and that with stories like what is going on with Ottawa, they need to "get out in front of it." The CSA sources apparently agree, but say that there are a few "minor nuts and bolts" that they want included in the announcement that have to be figured out still. Stresses that these are small things, nothing about league structure or anything that is essential for the league to launch, but are details they wish to have sorted before the official announcement https://sportspodcastingnetwork.com/2016/10/26/soccer-today-on-spn-radio-october-26th-2016-with-rudi-schuller-and-steven-sandor/
  • Laramee and Rollins on soccer today discuss the Ottawa situation further. Rollins stated that he has heard from someone he considers a very reliable source within the CSA (same source that gave him the information to break the story on the Whitecaps getting an MLS expansion franchise) that the CSA will not pass an application to move to the USL unless the USL waives its requirements for a 3 year commitment and allows the Fury to leave whenever they want. Also states that he has been told that it is expected that the Fury will spend one year in USL then move to CPL. Also states that the 2018 launch is perfectly on track. https://sportspodcastingnetwork.com/soccer-today/
  • Rollins tweets that OSEG will likely be one of the poorer teams at launch for CPL and that, the way the USL move has been described to him, the CSA and OSEG have had the conditions of the move set up as a mutual understanding, the CSA isn't threatening the team. 
  • November 2, 2016 Totera reports that there is a well-known european club interested in an Ontario market. 
     
  • November 2, 2016 - After tweeting speculation that the european clubs interested in NASL were shifting focus to CPL, Jonathon Tannenwald (fairly respected American reporter based in Philidelphia) tweeted that a source told him he was on the right track. Lots of other speculation around twitter (FuryFanatic, several NASL reporters) that it is Celtic shifting from Boston to a CPL market. https://twitter.com/thegoalkeeper/status/793809434849972224
  •  November 3, 2016 - Big info dump by Rollins via an "Ask me anything related to CPL." Not bothering to cite every tweet. A summary:

    • The European club interested in CPL is legit. However, the idea that they were originally interested in NASL before switching to CPL should be filed under "plausible rumour" at this point

    • The Toronto owner is NOT the European club, they are interested in a separate non-Toronto team. With Toronto, Hamilton, and likely Ottawa taken, makes me think Mississauga is the target. KWC Trinity and London seem too small to attract international investors

    • He knows the name of the Toronto owner but has been asked not to report. Says they are "a billionaire" and that "you can probably figure out who it is" (paraphrasing). Makes me think that one of the names being floated (Mitchell Goldhar, Frank Stronach) is correct

    • He says there will be a BC team, but has no info on who would own it or where it would be located. Not clear if that is just a "targeted market" or if he's saying an owner has been secured

    • When asked who would be the next couple most garaunteed markets after Hamilton, he said Calgary and Winnipeg (previously rumoured to involve the owners of the NHL teams of those cities)

    • He suspects that the domestic quota will be slowly scaled up instead of starting very high

    • Salaries will be at least double USL. He's heard a cap of 1.5 million before

    • DP slots floated but unconfirmed

    • No word on any team based in Newfoundland or the Maritimes

    • TFC may be allowed to participate in some capacity if they agree to launch a team outside of the GTA that is not a B team

    • CPL/CSA are copying USSF's SUM setup, goal is to make money on more than just the league itself

    • 8 launch teams remains "the goal" but a 7 team launch possible. Conservative expansion planned after

    • Mixed reports on a Quebec team 

    • The biggest holdup for an announcement is "working out details to contracts." Plausible but pretty vague

    • 95% certain there will be an announcement by Christmas

  • November 3, 2016 - Totera and Rollins talk on Red Card, primarily about the european club apparently interested in CPL. Not a huge number of specifics. Apparently a big club with global recognition. May or may not have been previously interested in NASL (Rollins said it he'd been told they were but he later didn't sound super confident in the source). https://twitter.com/NextSportStar/status/794201311101206529

  • November 5, 2016 - Dino Rossi and Kambiz Ebadi (commissioners of L1O and PLSQ) interviewed by Press Box Hattrick. Dino Rossi says League1 Ontario is developing video scouting services to allow CanPL teams to have better ways to evaluate players who have the potential to move up. Also confirmed that 2017 is certainly a no-go and 2018 will be the launch date. Ebadi also expressed excitement about the league. http://thelinknewspaper.ca/blogs/pressbox

  • November 15, 2016 - Steve Milton of the Hamilton Spectator reported that Paul Bierne, former VP of ticketing for the Ottawa Senators, VP of Business Operations for Toronto FC, and former Head of Commercial Development for Brighton & Albion.  Beirne did confirmed that potential CPL club owners would have to be deep-pocketed and that there would be a salary cap. "That, combined with making sure expenses are under control," Beirne said. "Sport is a funny business, you want to maintain a viable business but you also want to win. Owners need to be protected from themselves. http://www.thespec.com/sports-story/6964861-new-canadian-pro-soccer-league-makes-major-hire/

  • December 5, 2016 - Sandor reiterates that Fath/Edmonton are not interested in CPL https://twitter.com/stevensandor/status/805802921409527808

  •  

    December 7, 2016 - Word of a Halifax group, Sport and Entertainment Atlantic, is looking into launching a CPL team. The group is looking into building a modular 8000 seat soccer specific stadium at Wanderers Grounds https://www.localxpress.ca/local-sports/pro-soccer-league-wants-to-include-halifax-483627 , followed by a metro news article echoing many of the same themes (http://www.metronews.ca/news/halifax/2016/12/08/promoter-hoping-to-bring-soccer-team-and-stadium-to-halifax.html) and an interview on CBC Halifax with Derek Martin (http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/828468803663) that starts at 52:00

 

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Tuscan Rookie

Tuscan

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It's Steven Sandor, not Charles Sandor. I'd ctrl+F Charles and replace w Steve. Mind you I kinda like Charles Sandor, might start calling him that on Twitter now :lol:

Also I'm certain Steve broke the story that #CanPL was being investigated by the CSA first. Will talk to him on Twitter while calling him Charles.

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TRM Newbie

TRM

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You missed the most recent "back burner" comments by the Ottawa owners' group. A "goal" and "near future" are the undefined parts. That could mean anything or nothing. Hopefully the former.

Here is what the Ottawa Sun is reporting Fury prez John Pugh said on the #CanPrem #CPL
 
"There were talks of the formation of a Canadian Premier League, but those are on the back burner for now. There still exists a goal, as stated by the Canadian Soccer Association, which is to have a national league within the near future. "
 
 
 
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Complete Homer Newbie

Complete Homer

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57 minutes ago, Tuscan said:

Unless someone can get some intel from a CSA Board member as to the status of #CanPL and what Ottawa moving to USL means to that project, everything will have to remain as speculation.

Ironclub and I had a short twitter conversation with Dino Rossi, which is probably the best we are going to get. He indicated that USL will not be affiliated with CPL (noted above), but is his overall message was that "everyone needs to take a deep breath, it will all make sense shortly" before saying that it wasn't his place to share more. I take that, in junction with the reports that the Fury move isn't effecting the CanPL timeline, that this didn't come as a surprise to the CSA and things will be ok.

But let's try to keep the debate in the other thread, I want to keep this as close to a "straight facts" kind of thread as possible

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matty Newbie

matty

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On 25/10/2016 at 9:00 PM, Complete Homer said:

 

I want to clarify about Grey Cup weekend. It was speculation based on a hint that had a typo. I told them to update it and add a "?" but I guess they didn't. The hint went dry after.

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Complete Homer Newbie

Complete Homer

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8 hours ago, matty said:

I want to clarify about Grey Cup weekend. It was speculation based on a hint that had a typo. I told them to update it and add a "?" but I guess they didn't. The hint went dry after.

OK I'll edit. For what it's worth, I've been told two different windows, and the Grey Cup weekend fits in either. Personally I hope they hold off a bit if Toronto or IMFC goes far, it seems like an easy way to get drowned out. But hey, I'm not a marketing type, maybe they figure any extra media attention for soccer could help the announcement 

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Complete Homer Newbie

Complete Homer

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8 minutes ago, Dub Narcotic said:

Can you summarise the podcast? This is huge news, if true.

More or less:

- CSA will pass the Fury's application, but it is 100% contingent on the USL providing, in writing, a waiver that allows Ottawa to leave at any point. He says he trusts this source especially highly, as they are a very high level person in the CSA and is the same person that gave him the information years ago that allowed him to be the first to break that Vancouver and Portland were getting MLS expansion franchises.

- Rollins stated that Ottawa will only be in USL for 1 year, but I can't remember if he stated whether or not that part was direct from his source. The podcast is having issues with playback for some reason atm, I might try again later to clarify that point

- The whole Ottawa/USL/CPL thing has been going on for a while, and it is going as expected for both sides. This is the big thing for me, I was expecting a level of antagonism going on from the way the CSA quickly put out that they had not approved the move yet, and this makes it sound like the CSA and Fury are not at odds over this, which is a relief.

There may have been some other smaller points, but the podcast isn't loading for me properly anymore, so I can't get back to it.

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Gopherbashi Newbie

Gopherbashi

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5 hours ago, BringBackTheBlizzard said:

Vaguely remember an annoucement/blog about Sigma FC acting as the future Hamilton pro team's academy.

Can confirm; I remember this as well.

"Confirm" I suppose.  Not actually confirmation; just confirming that I remember, yeah...

Also the "Ottawa only being in CPL for one year" bit from Rollins seems a bit at odds with the "OFFC might be on the outside looking in" angle we've been hearing lately.

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