May 15, 2007 CSL press conference (from CSL media release)

SHORT AND LONG TERM PLANS REVEALED
Wednesday - May 16, 2007
CSL Canada wide

A well-attended press conference at the BMO Field Tuesday revealed short and long term plans to move the Canadian Soccer League Canada-wide.

And that the potential for Canada’s only professional soccer league is enormous, with the ball now rolling to secure regions of Canada, east and west.

Expansion in Quebec is seen as a priority and Quebec City FC will kickoff in 2008 to join Trois-Rivieres Attak, the reserve team of the USL’s Montreal Impact. This will mark the first time the league has two Quebec clubs in more than a decade. More teams will be added.

In addition, the International Division established in 2006, has recently added the African Icons as an expansion clubs, and groups from the Greek, Korean, Polish, Spanish and Indian communities are among those seeking membership.

Exploratory discussions have started in the eastern provinces and in Western Canada for the formation of regional divisions of the CSL. Except for key games including playoffs, the plan is to play most games on a regional basis to avoid the pitfalls of yesteryear and the high cost of travel associated with earlier professional leagues in Canada and the United States.

British Columbia has already entered 24 teams in a CSL Open Canada Cup qualifying series in that province and the B.C.winner will travel to London, Ontario for the Labour Day weekend semi-finals and final.

“There is real interest across Canada for certain high level senior amateur teams and leagues to step up to a professional environment and the CSL provides the challenge they are looking for,” said Cary Kaplan, commissioner of the CSL. “We intent to be inclusive, and to be a leader in what we view as aggressive expansion in the months and years to come,” said Kaplan, speaking when MLS teams Toronto FC and Houston Dynamo could be seen through a window doing drills on the BMO Field pitch. The CSL commissioner repeated earlier comments that more top flight professional soccer in Canada is needed to move the game along here.

Other announcements included a special trophy to recognize the long and considerable contribution of Harry Gauss of London City to Canadian soccer. The ailing Gauss, who launched his professional team in 1973, was missing from the media gathering for the first time in memory.

Bruce Thomas, chair of the Toronto site committee for the FIFA U- 20 World Cup 2007 spoke about the biggest sporting event ever undertaken by Canada, detailing the enormity of the project from early preparation to the end of the games that take place from June 30 - July 22, 2007 in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Burnaby, and Victoria.

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