We’re back once again after another exciting weekend of matches in the CPL. You can hear Jimmy’s most recent recap on Monday’s pod and again it’s awesome.

The match a lot of people had their eyes on came on Sunday-  the first of what is expected to be a series of CPL on Tour matches.

The game took place between Vancouver FC and Cavalry FC in the heart of the Okanagan, Kelowna, where 6,281 people filled the Apple Bowl to watch CPL action.  Even more people could be seen watching from the side of the road.

I spoke  to friend and fellow FPSC member Alan Scholes who was at the game. He told me there were food trucks and entertainment for the kids and it was a good matchday experience, but there would certainly need to be work done if the CPL were to expand to Kelowna. 

It got me thinking, where would I like to see the CPL go on tour next? Who would I like to see play in those matches? 

I’m going to give four cities today, and, I’m not including any of the cities from my CPL expansion article, or any cities where we are already anticipating the league adding a team. So Edmonton and Quebec City will not be on this list.

Regina, Saskatchewan

I’m starting with my hometown first today. The CPL has had Saskatchewan on the radar for four years, but progress on Saskatoon’s expansion side has been non-existent. This would be the biggest tour stop by some margin, as it would take place in the 30,000 seat Mosaic Stadium. I’d like to see Cavalry vs Valour meet in the middle in the sea of green. 

Moncton, New Brunswick

Stade Croix-Bleue Medavie has played host to the CFL’s Touchdown Atlantic on four separate occasions, and seats 8,300 with the option to expand up to 25,000. New Brunswick’s biggest city of 80,000 people would be an awesome market to test out, as it could provide Halifax with an Atlantic rival. My choice for the matchup would be the Wanderers vs a newly expanded Saint-Laurent in the CPL.

Thunder Bay, Ontario

The home of USL League Two’s Thunder Bay Chill is certainly an interesting prospective market for the CPL. Chapples Park Stadium only seats 2,000 people and Northern Ontario may not be the sexiest market, but the Chill have been going strong for a quarter of a century, so interest in the sport is there. I’d want to see Forge battle York in an all-Ontario derby.

Whitehorse, Yukon

Now, I know this one would be a tough sell for the league. I thought about putting St. John’s, Newfoundland as my #4 choice, but how incredible of an environment would it be to play a game up north? It would certainly be a one-time thing with the largest stadium only seating 1,000 people but I do believe it would draw a lot of viewers on OneSoccer and would be an incredible experience for both fans and players. For a match-up, Pacific vs Atletico Ottawa.

So what do you think? Where do you want to see the CPL go on tour next? 

I think no matter what, we all just want to see the league truly grow all across this amazing country we call home.