Pacific FC鈥檚 closest rivals in the Canadian Premier League 鈥� FC Edmonton and Cavalry FC of Calgary 鈥� are across the Rockies. So it makes sense that Island-based PFC would welcome a natural sa国际传媒 rivalry, and one that could come with a big-time German tinge.
鈥淚t would be fantastic 鈥� the Lower Mainland is a clear goal for the league,鈥� said Pacific FC president and co-owner Josh Simpson.
Simpson was responding to a story in Transfermarkt, the authoritative soccer website, which reported on the weekend that placing a team on the Lower Mainland, possibly the Fraser Valley, is a 鈥渕ajor priority.鈥�
鈥淭hat team could see major financing from the German Bundesliga,鈥� wrote Oak Bay-based Transfermarkt reporter Manuel Veth.
鈥淭hree major German teams are linked with investing in a club in the [CPL]. Sources have suggested both Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich could be interested in the project. Another possibility is Werder Bremen. There have also been suggestions by reliable sources that the Deutsche Fu脽ball Liga (DFL)鈥攖he Bundesliga governing body鈥攃ould be involved directly.鈥�
That template of big-league European participation with CPL franchises was established this season when Atl茅tico Madrid-owned Atl茅tico Ottawa became the CPL鈥檚 eighth team.
鈥淎tl茅tico set the pace. And there is a clear connection between Bayern Munich and Vancouver through Alphonso Davies [the Canadian prodigy who came out of the MLS Whitecaps],鈥� said Simpson.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of action right now with a handful of groups. This demand is exciting. The goal is to have 16 teams in the CPL by 2028 with a West-East split that is ideal.鈥�
Transfermarkt said it was unable to confirm the story with the DFL: 鈥淏ut it is understood that the league has followed Atl茅tico Madrid鈥檚 expansion to sa国际传媒 鈥� the LaLiga side own Atl茅tico Ottawa 鈥攚ith great interest.鈥�
Pacific FC co-owners Simpson and Rob Friend both played in the Bundesliga. Simpson played for FC Kaiserslautern and was capped 43 times for sa国际传媒. PFC general manager and CEO Friend played six seasons for Borussia Monchengladbach, Hertha Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt and was capped 32 times for sa国际传媒. They have used those connections to repatriate sa国际传媒 U-23 player and emerging PFC defender Kadin Chung of Port Coquitlam from FC Kaiserslautern II and recently placed goalkeeper Emil Gazdov on loan with FC N眉rnberg of the 2. Bundesliga.
A Lower Mainland CPL team would give PFC some annual away games that are just a ferry ride away. It would also allow for a handy sa国际传媒 back-to-back Mainland-Island road-double for other visiting teams. PFC was one of seven charter members of the CPL 鈥� sa国际传媒鈥檚 pro soccer league mandated in order to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the U.S. and Mexico 鈥� during the inaugural 2019 season. PFC placed third in the recently-completed 2020 pandemic-abbreviated season played without fans amid a bubble hub in Charlottetown, P.E.I. The 2021 CPL season is of more immediate concern for PFC than potential future provincial rivals.
鈥淲e are totally focused on 2021 right now,鈥� said Simpson.
鈥淲e would like to see fans allowed into Westhills Stadium on a percentage-capacity basis. It鈥檚 hard to operate sports teams without fans. Not just for the financial side of things but also for the atmosphere and excitement they provide.鈥�
But like everybody in sports looking ahead to 2021, the CPL is hoping for the best while preparing for whatever comes.
鈥淲e are planning for a normal season,鈥� said Simpson.
鈥淚f we have to pivot or adapt, then we will do that.鈥�
