Eoin OCallaghan was the MC and asked goalies Niko Giantsopoulos (wearing purple) and Eleias Himaras (wearing yellow)
what they thought of their new kits.
March 16, 2023...York United FC Kit Reveal Party (by Rocket Robin)
This year's kit reveal party was once again held at the Springhill Suites by Marriott Toronto-Vaughan hotel in Vaughan (near Hwys 400 and 7) for season ticket holders. Proceedings got started just after 6:00pm. (starting time would be tough for those working in downtown Toronto to get here in time.
It started with people feeding themselves at the buffet tables. The few people at my table who were here last year felt the spread had a lot more variety than last year. The stage was set up at the side of the room rather than the end so it made it much easier for everyone to see the show.
We each were each given a beer ticket on checking in....foreshadowing a reveal that a club sponsor this season is the Carlsberg brewery! Carlsberg had their regular beer and a 0% alcohol alternative. I figured there may have been between 80 to 100 fans (players and team staff excluded). There was also a QR code for us to scan with our phones for a chance to win the Carlsberg beer fridge on display.After most people had eaten, the ceremony began with Eoin O'Callaghan, the club's VP of Content and Communication Strategy, getting things started by inviting club president Angus McNab on the stage to start with talking about the importance of having Carlsberg as a new sponsor. A slide show began with pictures of the many clubs in the world over the years that do now or have worn 'Carlsberg' logos on their chests.
I started my phone recording the procedure so you can listen along. It also prooves that the whole show was over in 45 minutes.
The 2023 York United FC kit reveal party...the complete audio.
Eoin OCallaghan was the MC and asked goalies Niko Giantsopoulos (wearing purple) and Eleias Himaras (wearing yellow)
what they thought of their new kits.
Head coach Martin Nash and club president Angus McNab talked about the club's preseason trip to Houston.
Screen shot of the team's Primary kit.
Austin Ricci and Max Ferrari answer questions about looking forward to this season after last year
missing a lot of games through injuries to each of them.
Screen shot of the team's Alternate kit.
The rest of the team was introduced (except the goalie's who already were introduced earlier) by ascending numbers.
Low numbers in the back as more and more players crowded onto the stage. I felt good to see the entire squad (except Ronan Kratt
who is on loan to Werder Bremen until July 1st) as the last year's often had no-shows with the reasoning 'still waiting for
a visa' and some of them never did get into Csnada to play for the team. A good month of training should help the team settle in and get off to a faster start.
The whole squad.
Once they assembled that was the end of the formal event. The players mingled with guests until the crowd thinned out but before 8:00pm. I came with a friend who felt miserable because of a toothache that flared up so we cut short our plans to go to another hotel lounge and I just drove him home but I got a few things done before I left.
I went up to ask Eoin about the progress of the new stadium at Woodbine Racetrack. Hmm still being discussed with the political folks. Toronto (Woodbine is just inside the city boundaries) and we are getting a new mayor in a by-election. Yeah things could change I'm thinking as the guy who resigned has had the city reveal that his dream city train line (using mostly already existing tracks) is going to cost about double what his estimate was. Woodbine plans in the last two weeks is suddenly going to have a big casino so folks won't have to travel to Niagara Falls or Orillia. And FIFA this week just announced the World Cup has just expanded to have four-team groups (not three) which will add at least another one or two weeks to its length. Training facilities for these teams is one reason the stadium is being built.
1. Big thanks to Cody Shaw of fan services to remind me of a link to where I could 'see' my tickets on my phone (I could only do that on my laptop at home). No it's not done of the CPL App and not directly through TicketMaster but something that took him less than 5 minutes to set me up from the hours I had played with it. I had had to change my e-mail a few months back and thought I'd lost everything.
2. I almost got their green kit...I ordered it and they were pressing kits at a special table set-up while fans waited but because I wanted my own nickname rather than a player name on the back, they didn't have the individual letters with them so they'll do it at their Keele Street office and phone me for pickup.
3. I double checked as we didn't get a gift this year. They are expecting a free scarf for the SSHs but they haven't been delivered yet.
4. The team still has four pre-season games left. There's one Sunday but it will be a 'road' game at the TFC Training Ground bubble against TFC II. Time? Well the players better know. 7:00pm. Other games depend on field availability ie indoor vs outdoor depending on the weather.
5. Hey new player Markyan Voytsekhovskyy! I saw you play at League1 Ontario team ProStars FC last season! After the season ended he said he went out to Vancouver to train and was watched closely by Martin Nash who is from there.
6. Tass Mourdoukoutas was one of only three players who turned up at the 'thank you fans' party last Fall. He did stay long enough for that party putting off going home to Australia as soon as the season ended.
7. The kits have 'CIBC' at the bottom of the sleeve which is one of Canada's biggest banks. It was not mentioned during the presentation but I was answered that they are a league sponsor this year so will be on every club's kit.
The SpringHill Suites by Marriot Toronto-Vaughan location where the event took place. I took this picture before the event
started while it was still daylight.
Rocket Robin
robin.glover.1958@gmail.com
twitter: @RocketRobin01
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