The City of Kelowna is aiming to bring a professional soccer team to the city by 2028. Mayor Tom Dyas and other officials, in collaboration with the Canadian Premier League (CPL), unveiled plans for the project. Central to this initiative is securing an ownership group and investing around $25 million to enhance the Apple Bowl, Kelowna’s primary multi-sport stadium, to meet CPL expansion standards.
Kelowna Mayor Dyas highlighted the positive impact of hosting major events in the city, such as B.C. Lions football games and the Canadian Hockey League’s Memorial Cup. He emphasized the significance of upgrading the Apple Bowl to accommodate a Canadian Premier League team by 2028.
The proposed enhancements for the Apple Bowl include constructing a new grandstand with a capacity of 3,000 seats, up from the current 2,000, along with new locker rooms, a scoreboard, a broadcast center, and the conversion to artificial turf. The funding for these upgrades will be subject to approval in the upcoming city budget, determined after the fall election.
The Canadian Premier League, established in 2019 as Canada’s premier men’s domestic soccer league, is seeking to expand its reach. Marni Dicker, CPL’s executive vice-president, commended Kelowna’s efforts to become a potential host city for a CPL team, emphasizing the importance of securing an ownership group for the success of the endeavor.
Kelowna’s move towards welcoming a CPL team aligns with the league’s goal to grow and develop soccer in Canada. The collaboration between the city and CPL signals a shared vision to position Kelowna as a promising location for a future CPL team.