Canada City Saskatoon on CPL expansion radar

Article posted by Coliseum, March 24^th, 2021

Image: Canadian Premier League

The Canadian Premier League (CPL) recently announced that they have awarded the exclusive rights for a CPL expansion club to Living Sky Sports and Entertainment Inc. (LSSE), a Saskatchewan (Canada)-based company. The launch of an expansion club is contingent upon LSSE delivering a soccer-specific stadium which matches up to the League standards, and to that end, LSSE has identified Prairieland Park in Saskatoon (in Saskatchewan, Canada) as a preferred site for a venue.

The ‘Canadian Premier League’ quoted David Clanachan, Commissioner, Canadian Premier League, as commenting, “On behalf of the Board of Governors, we are pleased to make this announcement as we know we have a very supportive and engaged community of soccer fans in Saskatchewan since we launched the League. We are extremely hopeful that LSSE will be able to meet the League’s soccer-specific stadium requirements so that we can begin celebrating Canadian soccer in Saskatoon.”

The Canadian Premier League (CPL) is Canada’s professional men’s soccer league that debuted on April 27^th, 2019. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario (Canada), the Canadian Premier League features eight clubs from coast-to-coast.

Living Sky Sports and Entertainment Inc. is a Saskatchewan-based company specifically incorporated for the purpose of launching a professional soccer club for the Province of Saskatchewan. LSSE has entered into an agreement with the Canadian Soccer Business (CSB) and has acquired the exclusive rights for the development and launch of a Canadian Premier League (CPL) team.

The ‘Canadian Premier League’ further stated that Alan Simpson, Founder of LSSE and a life-long resident of Saskatchewan, will spearhead the effort to bring a CPL club to Saskatchewan. LSSE ownership group may further include Founding Partners and Community Partners with LSSE acting as the Managing Partner.

Stated a delighted Alan Simpson, Principal, LSSE, “We are excited about being part of the Canadian Premier League’s expansion plans for Saskatchewan. Signing the Agreement in Principle gives us the opportunity to bring the CPL and professional soccer to the province. By acquiring the exclusive rights to a CPL expansion club, we can immediately begin work on our first task, which is the development and financing of a soccer-ready stadium, suitable to CPL leaguewide standards, but more importantly, begin supporting the dream many Canadian kids have of playing pro soccer in their own province and country.”

Added Simpson, “We think Prairieland Park in Saskatoon is an ideal location for a stadium – it already possesses many key attributes that would contribute to the long-term viability of a pro-soccer team in Saskatchewan.”

Alan Simpson is also a founder of StorageVault Canada – publicly traded on the TSXV with $1.5 billion market capitalization. He served as the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and is presently a Director and Chair of the Acquisition Committee.

Saskatoon Prairieland Park Corporation is a membership-based, non-profit corporation, first established as an agricultural society in 1886. Housed in the Exhibition neighborhood of the Southeastern portion of Saskatoon. Prairieland Park offers a variety of event facilities.

Mark Regier, CEO, Prairieland Park, commented, “When Prairieland was approached about the possibility of a soccer stadium at the Park, we felt compelled to consider whether such an infrastructure project could enhance the long-term sustainability of the Park, as well as contribute meaningfully to the City of Saskatoon.”

Added Regier, “While we have not come to a definitive answer, Prairieland has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with LSSE. The signing of the MoU, therefore, marks the end of thoroughbred racing at Marquis Downs in Saskatoon. We feel it is our responsibility to embrace the possibility of new opportunities and address the rapid pace of change in our core businesses and services. We look forward to working with LSSE to understand whether a stadium at Prairieland is in our best long-term interests.”

Saskatoon Prairieland Park Corporation is a membership-based, non-profit corporation, first established as an agricultural society in 1886, the same year the first annual fair was held in Saskatoon.

Since its earliest days as a center for agricultural excellence, Prairieland Park in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan has evolved into a provincial leader in the development of trade shows, conferences, special events, industry expositions, concerts, cabarets, and much more! With more than $16 million being pushed as cash infusion in the form of infrastructure enhancement in recent years, Prairieland Park has become one of Canada’s premier venues.

The 136-acre park features easy access, ample onsite parking, within shouting distance from downtown Saskatoon and offering over 200,000 square feet of world class meeting, trade show and conference space … Saskatchewan’s largest all-under-one-roof trade exposition space.

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