I can’t imagine we’d willingly change formations after having our best ever season. It is a bit of an odd signing though with two left backs already on the roster.
William Akio signed with FC Tigers in the NPL Capital (Australian second division). Surprised he didn't land somewhere in CPL but I guess he's burned a few too many bridges.
William Akio signed with FC Tigers in the NPL Capital (Australian second division). Surprised he didn't land somewhere in CPL but I guess he's burned a few too many bridges.
When he got injured last year he wasn't focused on his recovery and instead spent a lot of time at the bar. His contract ripped up a year early while almost everyone else was brought back.
Whitecaps look legit. Ali Ahmed is playing well enough to start against Mexico next week, although his final decision making is lacking. Ralph Priso looks like he might be back to the player he was before his big injury at TFC too....
Cavalry still the only Canadian club to win a game against a Mexican side this year so there's that.
__________________
The Following User Says Thank You to shermanator For This Useful Post:
Whitecaps would’ve won the match outright if not for a very dodgy handball call leading to a penalty. And without their best player. Sorenson has them ticking along nicely. Hope it continues, they’re a lot of fun to watch right now
Per the latest Cavalry FC email bomb, some sections will have single game youth ticket pricing of 25% off.
New for 2025, we are pleased to introduce Youth Pricing (available in select areas) where kids 12 and under get 25% off!
I'm a big fan of this! Just debating between the flex packs which are a flat 15% off with no fees or buying tickets as needed with 2 kids getting the discount.
Looks like CPL is now on TSN. Changes nothing for me personally, but everyone was asking for this, so let's see how it goes.
Lol, this is massive. Most people are casual and will only watch if it's on TSN/CBC/Sportsnet. Can't wait to watch some games on TV and actually feel like I'm following the team and league.
Apologies if I misinterpreted some snarkiness in your post. I probably did.
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to jayswin For This Useful Post:
Lol, this is massive. Most people are casual and will only watch if it's on TSN/CBC/Sportsnet. Can't wait to watch some games on TV and actually feel like I'm following the team and league.
Apologies if I misinterpreted some snarkiness in your post. I probably did.
Agreed. It is absolutely massive. Like Sherm, I'll still be subscribing to Fubo or OneSoccer as I always have because I want every match and not just a game of the week.
Not getting carried on traditional TV was a major sticking point in the dispute between MediaPro and the league. The growth of the league depends on getting more eyeballs on the matches, and TSN has huge reach. Even if the league is giving away the matches for free, it is still a major development.
And I don't think that it is any coincidence that Cavalry, being reigning champions, feature in 3 of the 4 matches, and 2 of them at Spruce Meadows. Actually, looking at all 4 hosts, (Hamilton opening day, Victoria, Calgary twice) I honestly think that they chose games that would look the best on TV.
It may sound like a small detail, but what sells the league more? Spruce Meadows bumpin' and looking all European, or the running track at York Lions?
The Following User Says Thank You to Jimmy Stang For This Useful Post:
Lol, this is massive. Most people are casual and will only watch if it's on TSN/CBC/Sportsnet. Can't wait to watch some games on TV and actually feel like I'm following the team and league.
Apologies if I misinterpreted some snarkiness in your post. I probably did.
No snark intended on my part.
This is a good thing, although I think the impact of being on cable is not as big as more people cut cable. The exposure gets the league out there to new eyes and gives the league a professional feel it won't get on OneSoccer. But exposure alone doesn't pay the bills. Ideally it leads to more people buying tickets, merch, better corporate support, and maybe getting some actual broadcasting money.
So now we see if people tune in. Personally I'll be at the pub and in the stands for the 3 Cavalry games so it doesn't do much for me.
__________________
The Following User Says Thank You to shermanator For This Useful Post:
This is a good thing, although I think the impact of being on cable is not as big as more people cut cable. The exposure gets the league out there to new eyes and gives the league a professional feel it won't get on OneSoccer. But exposure alone doesn't pay the bills. Ideally it leads to more people buying tickets, merch, better corporate support, and maybe getting some actual broadcasting money.
So now we see if people tune in. Personally I'll be at the pub and in the stands for the 3 Cavalry games so it doesn't do much for me.
That's the thing though - being on TSN isn't for you, or me, or any of the people who are going to watch anyway. As much as CPL is a big thing to us, it really is just a blip on the sports radar in this country.
Although cable subscriptions are down because of streaming, the last bastion of traditional TV is live sports, and it still holds some weight.
And it isn't just the match itself. Right now on TSN, the lead story is Canada v. Mexico (for better or worse). When they don't carry matches, they don't cover them (or barely) on the web or social media either. Lots of non-cable subscribers hit up the web site and social media.
There's honestly no downside. It will absolutely raise the profile of the league, attract new fans and corporate sponsors, etc. The CPL is a great thing and I welcome as much attention on it as possible.
And I think we're kind of arguing the same point, but with a little more optimism on my part.
I still subscribe to cable (call me old school, whatever, I still love it); Through my Shaw/Rogers account, I can still watch all those cable channels on online - so you get your cable channels anywhere, really like a streaming service. I watch TSN and Sportscentre at work on my second screen during NHL trade deadlines sometimes, and it's super convenient. Hell I've watched Canada Soccer games on my phone while in transit on the bullet train in Japan.
I think the fact that the CPL is now on TSN is massive. While it likely won't have high ratings versus other programs, getting onto national TV is a huge step in the right direction for the league. Huge. The exposure alone from these games is a level of respect not afforded to us until today.
Also, I agree with Jimmy - new eyes seeing the raucous environment at Spruce Meadows, Eurpoean style, is a much better viewing experience than literally any of the other stadiums (aside from Halifax or Pacific). Good on TSN for likely recognizing that.
Only reason we have networks jumping on the wagon for Nations League and CPL is we are 14+ months away from a home World Cup.
Sponsors know people are getting interested are now focusing their marketing efforts on soccer in general, so they are now receptive and willing to pay the ad and sponsorship rates that TSN needs to cover rights fees and production costs for all these games they broadcast. Given the ratings usually, not enough people watch games for sponsors to pay the rates the networks need.
That said, maybe the CSB has negotiated with sponsors and the resultant networks, that if they want to be part of the host country World Cup sponsorship next year, they have to start supporting things this year, like Nations League and CPL coverage. It it what the CSB's role is to do.
Let's be real here, we average 4000 fans for attendance in a city of over 1M. And my guess there isn't a bunch of Cavs spread across the country (nowhere near as many Flames fans) that would move the ratings needle at all. Networks measure their audiences in 10s or 100s of thousands or higher, and these will not be rated great across the country.
Again though, any exposure is great may bring some more fans on board to go to games locally, which is all the CPL teams care about here to raise the profile a bit.
We will see after 2026 if this coverage continues though, on the networks.
