Windsor native Clanachan wants to bring home CPL expansion soccer team

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David Clanachan believes that his hometown of Windsor and Essex County could be a perfect location for a franchise in what he feels is one of the best soccer leagues in the world.

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On Monday, Clanachan, 60, backed up his words by resigning as the first president and commissioner of the Canadian Premier League after receiving exclusive rights to an expansion club in Windsor and Essex County.

“I always said that I wanted to, if I had the opportunity to somehow explore my own team and I had my preferences, it would be in Windsor and Essex County,” Clanchan said. “I believe in that part of the province. Many people have a lot to say, but have never been there.

“I am more than proud to have grown up in that town. It was where I grew up and life was simple, easy and safe. I have many friends there and it is a great city ”.

A Walkerville high school graduate who earned his business degree while playing at the University of Windsor, Clanachan became Tim Hortons COO and president of Restaurant Brands International.

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Clanachan was appointed the CPL’s first commissioner in 2018 and oversaw the launch of the league in 2019, which drew 20,000 fans to its opening game in Hamilton in 2019 and expansion to eight teams.

Vancouver will join the league in 2022 and Saskatoon received a conditional franchise in 2023 with Clanachan believing that the Windsor franchise will be up and running not far from that.

“Realistically, knowing what I have seen with other clubs, I would think it is aggressive to play in 2024, but surely before the World Cup comes to North America (in 2026),” said Clanachan. “So, 2024 to 26.”

It’s amazing for our community.

The announcement was well received by Vancho Cirovski, general manager of League1 Ontario’s Windsor TFC.

“I know Dave from our association with League1 and when he played with my brother at Windsor Soccer Club,” Cirovski said. “I am happy that he is involved in this.

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“He knew and I knew that if there was ever an opportunity to do something in Windsor, he would support me and I look forward to all that we can do together. Windsor is a feeder system, or is working towards being one, for our partners in Toronto and if a child has the opportunity to move to CPL, that is where they should be. I am happy to see this happen. It’s amazing for our community. “

The only caveat is that the expansion club must have a specific soccer stadium and meet other expansion criteria to league standards, but Clanachan is confident that things will work out.

“This is an exciting project and maybe a legacy,” Clanachan said. “There are opportunities. A stadium is always an opportunity, but I’m not going to say we have to build a $ 20 million stadium or we won’t.

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“Associations and people are needed to work in the community. I don’t think you can always go into town and say, ‘We want to use tax dollars. There are options, but I’m not going to go into that. “

The CPL was the first league to secure ties to Canadian college sports through a draft with players earning money that could be used for education. Additionally, 16 of the 23 players on each list must be Canadian.

“I think (Windsor and Essex County) are a good fit,” Clanachan said of the league, which plays in CONCACAF (Confederation of Association Soccer of North, Central and Caribbean America) and against MLS teams for the Canadian Championship. . “I want to see between 5,000 and 6,000 fans. Think of (Windsor) Spitfires and we want to be at that level and then go up to 7,500 or 8,000 and hit a maximum of 10,000 to 12,000.

“If you do that, you are in the top 10 (leagues) globally. You’re there on a global level with Scotland, Portugal and Turkey, and those are nations that have been playing for over 100 years. “

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