The City of Kelowna is aiming to attract a professional soccer team by 2028. Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas, joined by city officials and representatives from the Canadian Premier League (CPL), unveiled plans for this endeavor. Central to the initiative is the need to secure an ownership group and allocate funds of up to $25 million for enhancing the Apple Bowl, the city’s primary multi-sport stadium, to meet CPL standards.
Mayor Dyas emphasized the positive impact of hosting major events in Kelowna, citing previous successes like B.C. Lions football games and the Canadian Hockey League’s Memorial Cup. The proposed enhancements for the Apple Bowl include a new grandstand with a capacity of 3,000 seats, upgraded locker rooms, a scoreboard, a broadcast center, and the conversion to artificial turf.
Funding for these upgrades will be subject to approval in the upcoming city budget, scheduled after the fall election. Mayor Dyas, seeking re-election, faces competition from contenders such as businessperson Emily Salsbury and former MP and city councillor Ron Cannan.
The Canadian Premier League, established in 2019 as Canada’s premier men’s soccer league, aims to expand the sport domestically. The CPL operates independently of the U.S. soccer league system, which includes teams like the Vancouver Whitecaps. CPL’s executive vice-president, Marni Dicker, expressed satisfaction with Kelowna’s progress towards hosting a team, emphasizing the importance of securing an ownership group for the venture.
In a statement, Dicker highlighted the mutual goal of positioning Kelowna as a future CPL home and expressed eagerness to engage with potential ownership groups interested in the opportunity presented by Kelowna’s bid for a CPL team.
