The number of Canadian Premier League teams grew by two this week, with Valour FC and FC Edmonton joining the fledgling circuit ahead of its planned 2019 launch.
On Friday, Edmonton saw the rebirth of FCE as a professional club after the team shuttered its top-level operations following a seven-year run in the North American Soccer League. FCE continued its academy programs but sat out 2018 as a pro club, and a street party in downtown Edmonton was used to relaunch the team as a CPL outfit.
"FC Edmonton is delighted to be joining the Canadian Premier League," FCE co-owner Tom Fath said in a statement. "The Fath family is proud to continue the strong tradition of soccer here in Edmonton. Sport continually brings our entire community together and makes us stronger. We're thrilled to re-establish our first team, supporting the soccer development pathways that begin with local clubs and academies. We cannot thank the supporters enough for their dedication to our club. Now, the hard work continues, and we look forward to kick off in April 2019."
FCE redesigned its logo but kept its name ahead of the move to the new league. Fath told the Canadian Press that there was never any thought to changing the club's moniker, with fans of the eight-year-old organization supporting the decision to keep the name.
"They loved the name and they loved the colours," Fath said. "Because it's us."
Family, Courage, Energy. This is what we wear, this is what we rally for. #FCEd #CanPL pic.twitter.com/ZG8ImwiAJc
— FC Edmonton (@FCEdmontonNow) June 9, 2018
Two days prior to Edmonton's launch party, Valour FC of Winnipeg was officially introduced as a CPL club.
The club, owned and operated by the same group that runs the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers, will play at 33,000-seat Investors Group Field. The size of the stadium, the biggest in the CPL by a large margin, shouldn't be a problem according to Winnipeg mayor Brian Bowman.
"Winnipeg knows how to host professional sports," Bowman said. "We know how to get behind our sports teams. We've seen that recently, with the most successful Jets playoff run in the history of the Winnipeg Jets."
The numbers seem to bear out that Bowman's belief, with the Winnipeg Sun reporting sales of 643 season ticket deposits — which can each be used to purchase several tickets — in the 24 hours after Valour FC's launch event. Social media counts put the team's deposit count at nearly 850 as of late Friday.
I’m In! I am Valour Football Club Member 842. Make your deposit at https://t.co/HGSUKghsO2 #ForValour #CanPL
— Mark Moroz (@ticatsfanwest) June 9, 2018
Valour FC got its name from the famous story of three World World I soldiers from the same Winnipeg street who were awarded the Victoria Cross. Wade Miller, president of the non-profit organization that runs the Blue Bombers and Valour FC, said the club will aim to reflect that same local connection when it fields its team next year.
"It is time for us to give young Canadian soccer players the opportunity to play professional soccer in Canada," Miller said at the club launch event. "I look forward to seeing which Manitobans are on this pitch next year. This is your team, built by our community for the community."
FC Edmonton and Valour FC join Calgary's Cavalry FC, HFX Wanderers FC and York 9 FC as clubs officially introduced by the CPL. Teams in Hamilton and Vancouver Island will unveil their branding in the coming weeks, with current USL club Ottawa Fury FC also widely expected to join the league for the maiden season.