The City of Langford has been working alongside Island soccer club Pacific FC in order to pitch the Canadian Premier League (CPL) on hosting the entire season in Langford.
The proposal to the CPL incorporates a season that would span over a 60-day time frame in a compressed season format. According to Langford city officials, the Canadian teams that make up the league would travel to the Island and be required to self-quarantine for two weeks.
Players would also be required to isolate in between games & kept in very tight groups in terms of their accommodations.
Based on the health measures set by Dr. Bonnie Henry in regards to large gatherings, the games would not allow fans to watch from the stadium, however, every game would be streamed online.
According to the City of Langford, new fencing installed over the wintertime will block some of the sightlines from the surrounding areas, but officials would be relying on “community-spirited bylaw enforcement” to keep people from gathering in the public areas.
“People should enjoy the games from the safety of their own homes,” said the City.
Games would be played at Westhills Stadium, with training held at Gaudi Field, Westhills, & the new Pacific FC indoor training centre.
The City of Langford is hoping that bringing the Canadian Premier League to Vancouver Island, it will bring some “joy and normalness” back to life.
At this time, the proposal is still pending approval from the provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, as well.
One idea that is also being tossed around is the possibility of hosting a CPL reality TV show that would showcase the irregular soccer season, behind the scenes. The goal of this show would be to provide an all-access glimpse into the off-pitch lives of players while creating entertainment and jump-starting the film industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prince Edward Island is another location that has been rumoured to be in the mix for hosting the Canadian Premier League season – a season which would ideally kickoff towards the end of the summer.
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Graham Cox
