Cup participation the previous summer
in Mexico, before folding five years later,
ultimately failing due to poor management,
a lack of vision, and money issues.
The CPL appears to be on firmer
financial ground compared to its
predecessor. Major companies such
as Volkswagen are on board as title
sponsors, Italian outfit Macron is the
league’s kit provider, stable ownership
groups are in place, and a 10-year media
rights deal – believed to be worth several
hundred million dollars – has been signed
with Barcelona-based MEDIAPRO to
produce and distribute match broadcasts.
Clanachan is already looking ahead
and wants to see the CPL expand to
somewhere between 14 and 16 teams
in five years, at which time the league
would think about introducing promotion
and relegation.
But while optimism runs high, the CPL
faces daunting obstacles to success, not
the least of which will be the standard of
play. Although billed as Canada’s top
flight, the CPL is essentially a tier below
MLS and will largely feature youngsters
who couldn’t make it in MLS, CanadianOPAUL BEIRNE
President of the CPL, he oversees all logistics
for the league, including branding and club
management. Formerly vice-president of
business operations for MLS club Toronto.OKURT LARSON
One of Canada’s leading soccer reporters
during his time with the Toronto Sun
newspaper, he is the managing editor of the
CPL’s official website, overseeing an impressive
and growing editorial staff.OJIM BRENNAN
Coach of York 9, he served as Toronto’s
captain during their first few seasons in
MLS. A former defender with Bristol City,
Nottingham Forest, Norwich City and
Southampton who won 49 caps for Canada.OSTEPHEN HART
Coach of HFX Wanderers, the former
Trinidadian midfielder has spent most of
his coaching career in Canada. Took charge
of the Canadian national team from 2009
to 2012.WHO’S WHO: THE KEY FIGURES IN THE CPL
veterans in the twilight of their careers
and journeymen international players.
Will Canadian fans, who have regular
access to weekly matches from Europe’s
top leagues and the UEFA Champions
League, invest their time and money in a
new league that largely features players
they don’t know? It remains to be seen,
although, Clanachan is optimistic, stating:
“Canadians are patient and understand
it’s going to take time for the CPL to grow
to a certain level, but as long as they see
progress, that’s what they want.”
Another challenge for the CPL is
expanding its fan base beyond “diehard”
soccer fans. Soccer receives a lot less
coverage in Canada than the other major
sports. MLS has been in Canada since
2007, when Toronto entered the league,
but even today coverage of the league is
confined to the sports section of the daily
newspapers and garners little mention on
nightly network TV shows or on the vast
number of all-sports radio stations across
the nation.
“You know what keeps me awake at
night? It’s how do we cut through all the
chatter about other sports leagues?” says
Clanachan of the battle for relevancy in a
crowded sports landscape.ODAVID CLANACHAN
The Canadian Premier League’s first
commissioner and chairman. Left his job
as president of Tim Hortons, Canada’s iconic
coffee and donut fast-food chain, to become
the league’s head honcho.
OBOB YOUNG
Canadian businessman who made his millions
in computer software. One of the founding
fathers of the CPL, Young also owns the
Hamilton Tiger-Cats gridiron team, who
play in the Canadian Football League.
OSCOTT MITCHELL
Chief executive officer of Canadian Soccer
Business, the group responsible for managing
and marketing the CPL’s commercial inventory
and media rights.
OJAMES EASTON
As vice-president of soccer operations for
the CPL, he is in charge of all on-field matters,
including competition standards, player
management and development, officiating
and scheduling.
Business...David
Clanachan (right)
with Volkswagen’s
Daniel WeisslandFounder...YoungInfluence...BrennanCoach...HartChallenge...Canada’s Zachary
Brault-Guillard is fouled
during a CONCACAF
Nations League game