The City of Kelowna has a new objective: to bring a professional soccer team to the city by 2028. Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas and other city officials, together with representatives from the Canadian Premier League (CPL), revealed plans for the project. A key focus is securing an ownership group and investing up to $25 million to enhance the Apple Bowl, the city’s main multi-sport stadium, to meet CPL expansion requirements.
“We’ve experienced the positive impact of hosting tournaments and major events in Kelowna,” Dyas stated, citing past events such as B.C. Lions football games and the Canadian Hockey League’s Memorial Cup. “Today, we are building on that success by progressing essential upgrades to the Apple Bowl and moving closer to welcoming a Canadian Premier League team to Kelowna in 2028.”
Proposed enhancements to the Apple Bowl include a new grandstand with a capacity for 3,000 spectators, up from the current 2,000, along with new locker rooms, a scoreboard, a broadcast center, and the conversion to artificial turf. The funding for these upgrades will require approval in the city’s upcoming budget, scheduled after the fall election. Dyas is a candidate in the election, facing competition from businessperson Emily Salsbury and Ron Cannan, a city councilor and former MP.
The Canadian Premier League, established in 2019, serves as the top tier of domestic men’s soccer in Canada. In contrast, MLS, which includes the Vancouver Whitecaps, is integrated into the U.S. soccer league system. CPL executive vice-president Marni Dicker commended Kelowna’s progress towards hosting a team, emphasizing the importance of securing an ownership group. “Today’s announcement reflects our joint aspiration to position Kelowna as a potential CPL venue,” she stated in a written release. “We eagerly anticipate engaging with potential ownership groups interested in this Kelowna opportunity.”