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Below is a statement from Canadian Premier League Commissioner David Clanachan released Friday regarding the start of the 2021 CPL season. In the note, Clanachan says the League has set a target kick-off date of "mid-June to early July" at a single site, with all eight clubs in the one location without fans. Clanachan added CPL clubs will play a 28-game regular season in 2021 "including matches in our home markets potentially with our supporters and fans cheering on their clubs."
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As for where that single-site season kickoff will be, Clanachan says League officials are "working non-stop with several locations creating options" to begin the 2021 CPL season. "As we continue to finalize our plans, we will keep you posted on our progress and look forward to announcing the start of our 2021 season," Clanachan concluded. CPL played its 2020 season, dubbed the Island Games, on Prince Edward Island in August and September of last year. Forge FC won, capturing their second CPL Championship, with a 2-0 win over HFX Wanderers FC in the final. Below is the full statement from CPL commissioner David Clanachan.
"We continue to move forward with our plans for a full 2021 season with the strong support of our Club Owners and are working non-stop with several locations creating options to begin our season. We remain adaptable to change because of the COVID- 19 pandemic across the country and are focused on working with the public health authorities, along with their protocols that will help govern our 2021 season. Our target date to start the season is mid-June to early July. We will start the season in one location with all eight Clubs without fans in stands. Each CPL club will play 28 regular-season games and we will follow a single table format that will provide fans with a more competitive season that creates more exciting matches right to the end of the season – including matches in our home markets potentially with our Supporters and Fans cheering on their Clubs. The start of the CPL 2021 season will be a Made-for-TV event with all matches broadcast exclusively via the Canadian Premier League’s media partner OneSoccer and its linear partners. Updating and expanding on the League’s virtual stadium, created by wTVision and implemented in 2020 at The Island Games is a priority. We are dedicated to making each match a first-class viewing experience that delivers unique club and partner branding executions and exciting fan engagement opportunities. As we continue to finalize our plans, we will keep you posted on our progress and look forward to announcing the start of our 2021 season. - David Clanachan, CPL Commissioner."
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