– Calgary’s new professional men’s soccer team will begin competition
in Spring 2019 –

– Cavalry FC to play out of new soccer specific stadium at the world-class
Spruce Meadows sports facility –

Calgary, AB (May 17, 2018) – The Canadian Premier League (CPL) confirmed today that Cavalry FC, based in Calgary, will be one of the founding clubs to play in the highly-anticipated professional men’s soccer league set to debut in Spring 2019.

The club’s name, Cavalry FC, is inspired by the region’s storied military history. It honours the armed services and first responders who continue to serve the Calgary area and the rest of the country.

Cavalry FC is owned and operated by Spruce Meadows Sports & Entertainment – a division of Spruce Meadows Ltd. The club is led by sports executives Linda Southern-Heathcott (Chair & CEO, Spruce Meadows Sports & Entertainment) and Ian Allison (President & COO, Spruce Meadows Sports & Entertainment). Former professional player Tommy Wheeldon Jr. will join Spruce Meadows Sports & Entertainment as General Manager and Head Coach for Cavalry FC.

Cavalry FC will play out of the renowned Spruce Meadows equestrian complex. Renovations to existing facilities at Spruce Meadows will result in a new soccer-specific stadium with an additional 5,000 seats featuring a world-class grass pitch along with top tier training facilities.

Spruce Meadows has also confirmed plans to embrace an authentic match day experience and will work with supporters to create an onsite home for club rallies and a “march to the match”.

Cavalry FC Identity and Crest Defined

The Cavalry FC name and crest recognize the history and pageantry of its home, Spruce Meadows, and also pays tribute to the city’s military legacy and geographic location. The chevron found at the centre of the crest is a nod to both the Canadian Army’s armoured regiment, Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), and the Alberta Foothills and Rocky Mountains near Calgary. The football on the crest is a salute to soccer’s history and bright future in Southern Alberta.

The club’s official colours are “Army Green”, “Calgary Red” and “Black on Black”. The colour green is representative of the foothills and Spruce Meadow’s immaculate green lawns, while red represents Calgary’s proud sports identity. Both red and green also feature prominently on the regimental flag of Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians).

Cavalry FC’s brand identity was developed by the CPL’s internal creative team. The league’s group of sports cultural experts met with hundreds of supporters, players, volunteers, politicians and business leaders – all of whom share a passion to build a soccer culture in Calgary around a professional club of their our own.

Quotes

“It is our sincere pleasure to welcome Cavalry Football Club to the Canadian Premier League as one of our founding clubs and help bring soccer to a whole new level in Canada. The entire team at Spruce Meadows Sports and Entertainment has worked tirelessly to make the dream of professional men’s soccer in Calgary a reality and they are poised to add yet another chapter to the city’s impressive sports history.”

David Clanachan
Commissioner, Canadian Premier League

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“Calgary has witnessed and hosted world leading events such as the Winter Olympics and International Showjumping at Spruce Meadows, lifted Grey Cups and a Stanley Cup.  Many an Olympian have trained in this City and competed against the World’s best. The only thing we’ve missed in order to class ourselves as a World Class sporting city, is the professional level of the world’s biggest game… until now. I am extremely proud to have played a part in helping bring the professional game to this City with a truly world class organization in Spruce Meadows.”

Tommy Wheeldon Jr.
General Manager & Head Coach, Spruce Meadows Sports & Entertainment

“Spruce Meadows truly is a story of “by Canadians for Canadians” that has risen from virtually nothing to some degree of prominence and repute on the world stage over the last four decades. However, it is about so much more. It is about community, family, youth, and about providing pathways for Canadian athletes. Our vision for the sport of soccer and the CPL ticks all of those boxes. We believe that it is an exquisite fit at the perfect time.”

Linda Southern-Heathcott
Chair & CEO, Spruce Meadows Sports & Entertainment

“I am honoured to be a part of this journey. Our community is passionate about sport and the global sport stage, and there is none more popular than soccer. We have a long history of providing opportunity for Canadian athletes to train, compete and excel.   We have now set goals and objectives for soccer in Canada that, while they might be lofty, are realistic. These are exciting times for fans, athletes and the community and we are delighted to play a role in it.”

Ian Allison
President & COO, Spruce Meadows Sports & Entertainment

About the Canadian Premier League

Canadian Premier League (CPL) is Canada’s domestic men’s soccer league set to debut in spring 2019. Playing in world-class and unique venues, and partnering with strong community-led ownership groups, The CPL will bring professional soccer to communities across our great country.

For updates and more information, please go to CanPL.ca.

Connect with us on Twitter: @CPLsoccer and #CanPL

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For additional information, please contact:

Greg McIsaac
Communications
greg.mcisaac@canpl.ca