The Canadian Premier League kicks off its sixth season this weekend, still a work in progress but with a sense of stability in most quarters.

Toronto-based York United FC, sold in November after being taken over last April by Canadian Soccer Business (which shares the same ownership as the CPL), has enthusiastic new Mexican owners and all eight clubs enter the season with the same coaches. There seems plenty to build on.

害羞草研究所淪tability is a great word for a young league and that害羞草研究所檚 where we are,害羞草研究所� said commissioner Mark Noonan. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 stability tied with growth. That害羞草研究所檚 the focus.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e in a good place to continue that path,害羞草研究所� he added.

B.C. teams in Langley and Langford are part of what Noonan calls a 害羞草研究所渓eague of opportunity害羞草研究所� with 75 per cent of its minutes going to Canadian talent.

The CPL saw five of its clubs separated by just six points, from second to fifth place, in a competitive 2023 season. And the campaign concluded in a doozy of a final that saw defending champion Forge FC win its fourth title in a dramatic 2-1 win over regular-season leader Cavalry FC with all three goals coming in extra time.

Forge coach Bobby Smyrniotis, a constant since Day 1 likes what he sees over the first five years.

害羞草研究所淢ore talent, more players, more ability,害羞草研究所� said Smyrniotis. 害羞草研究所淎nd I think that害羞草研究所檚 going to become more entertaining for all the crowds that are coming 害羞草研究所� As long as we keep putting the right product on the field.害羞草研究所�

Noonan says the news was good off the field as well.

害羞草研究所淓very kind of business metric that we measure went in the right direction,害羞草研究所� he said in an interview.

But building a league is a costly, challenging task. Observers got a peek into just how costly when the community-owned Winnipeg Blue Bombers, which operates Valour FC, released its 2023 annual report this week.

Valour, which finished last in the league at 6-14-8, lost on and off the field. Some $1.25 million advanced to the team by the parent Winnipeg Football Club was recorded as a loss 害羞草研究所渂ecause there is uncertainty on Valour害羞草研究所檚 ability to repay the loan.害羞草研究所�

In December, Noonan said CPL owners were 害羞草研究所減robably $125 million in the hole害羞草研究所� from developing 害羞草研究所渁n ecosystem for soccer in Canada that didn害羞草研究所檛 exist.害羞草研究所�

On the plus side, a disagreement with media partner Mediapro Canada that led to legal filings appears to be settled, with OneSoccer once again airing all of the league害羞草研究所檚 games.

害羞草研究所淏usiness as usual,害羞草研究所� said Noonan.

The season opens Saturday with Atletico Ottawa hosting York United, Cavalry visiting Forge in a rematch of last year害羞草研究所檚 championship game and Pacific FC entertaining Halifax Wanderers FC.

On Sunday, it害羞草研究所檚 Valour at Vancouver FC.

There are two trophies up for grabs with the CPL Shield going to the team that finishes first in the regular-season standings and the North Star Cup to the last team standing in the playoffs. Both come with berths in the CONCACAF Champions害羞草研究所� Cup, the confederation害羞草研究所檚 elite club competition.

Forge is looking for a three-peat. Smyrniotis knows it will take supreme effort.

害羞草研究所淚 think one of the most difficult things in sport is keep on winning in a salary-cap league,害羞草研究所� he said.

Atletico Ottawa has restocked its roster after finishing sixth last season at 10-12-6, missing the post-season by just two points. Additions include defenders Amer Didi膰 and Jonathan Grant, midfielders Manny Aparicio and Aboubacar Sissoko and forward Ballou Tabla.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a completely new team,害羞草研究所� said coach Carlos Gonzalez. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e trying to blend them into a good team, a great team together.害羞草研究所�

Game Plan Sports Group, led by Mexican brothers Eduardo, Miguel and Ricardo Pasquel, now own York, the second franchise with foreign ownership. Ottawa is part of Atletico Madrid害羞草研究所檚 worldwide network of clubs.

害羞草研究所淭his is the world害羞草研究所檚 game,害羞草研究所� said Noonan. 害羞草研究所淎nd bringing in a group like the Pasquel brothers and all their connections opens up a great new window for us in a lot of ways 害羞草研究所� CPL is now on the radar in Mexico.害羞草研究所�

And elsewhere. The CPL is shown in 35 countries with plans to grow that coverage.

As for expansion, Noonan says there are 15 groups interested in a CPL franchise on non-disclosure agreements. But Noonan says the league won害羞草研究所檛 add teams until they tick all the necessary boxes.

He expects the league to likely remain at eight teams in 2025 and look to expand in 2026.

害羞草研究所淏ut I害羞草研究所檓 bullish on expansion. We will double the size of this league in the next decade or so. But we have to do it smartly, 害羞草研究所� he added.

The league implemented an 害羞草研究所渆xceptional young talent害羞草研究所� designation last season, allowing teams to sign two additional under-18 domestic players who don害羞草研究所檛 count against the salary cap or roster number.

Vancouver FC took advantage of that last season to sign T.J. Tahid and James Cameron, both of whom went on to represent Canada at the youth level.

This year害羞草研究所檚 phenom is 16-year-old Grady McDonnell, who was 15 when he signed with Vancouver in January. He is on a regular three-year pro deal.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e not going out and buy Lionel Messi. But we might develop him,害羞草研究所� said Noonan. 害羞草研究所淎nd that害羞草研究所檚 what is really exciting. It害羞草研究所檚 a good reason to come to the matches, to see this next generation of players that are going to start coming up through our league.害羞草研究所�

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