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Thunderball · 12-20-2025, 02:26 PM

Like Shermanator said, this is going to be a make or break season and we're not off to an encouraging start.

This was not an upbeat holiday message, and I think the semi-pro level wages are starting to catch up with this league. Really want to be wrong here and see some great new signings (plus Aird and Shome back), but $1.3m CAD is not going to cut it when USL Championship and NSL pay a lot more. I think we're seeing the limit of creative accounting and what a shoestring budget can buy while expecting fans to pay professional league prices.

All three of CPL's top clubs are all being forced to rebuild substantially while CPL is gifted entries to the largest tournament in Concacaf. We all expect a player or two moving on as CPL is a development league, but this isn't top young players getting a chance at Europe or MLS, this is looking like journeyman players not being able to afford to stay in CPL and going lateral. This is supposed to be Canada Division 1, and supposedly the #6 ranked league in Concacaf... a bank teller job should not be a raise.

I know I'll be putting my money where my mouth is and continuing to support this team and league, but I also worry if this is gonna hurt attendance.

12-20-2025, 02:26 PM	#36
Thunderball Franchise Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Calgary, AB Exp:	Like Shermanator said, this is going to be a make or break season and we're not off to an encouraging start. This was not an upbeat holiday message, and I think the semi-pro level wages are starting to catch up with this league. Really want to be wrong here and see some great new signings (plus Aird and Shome back), but $1.3m CAD is not going to cut it when USL Championship and NSL pay a lot more. I think we're seeing the limit of creative accounting and what a shoestring budget can buy while expecting fans to pay professional league prices. All three of CPL's top clubs are all being forced to rebuild substantially while CPL is gifted entries to the largest tournament in Concacaf. We all expect a player or two moving on as CPL is a development league, but this isn't top young players getting a chance at Europe or MLS, this is looking like journeyman players not being able to afford to stay in CPL and going lateral. This is supposed to be Canada Division 1, and supposedly the #6 ranked league in Concacaf... a bank teller job should not be a raise. I know I'll be putting my money where my mouth is and continuing to support this team and league, but I also worry if this is gonna hurt attendance. Last edited by Thunderball; 12-20-2025 at 02:37 PM.