Details of the Zoom meeting with the CPL Commisioner David Clanachan held at 1:00pm 
on Thursday June 24, 2021.  At one time I noticed 34 participants at this virtual meeting.  

Clanachan started out by giving us an update of the kickoff (starts this weekend) in Winnipeg 
and the playoff format.  

All eight teams are now here in Winnipeg and living in the bubble.  

The players and officials were all tested before arriving in Winnipeg and then given three Covid 
tests in their first seven days in the city...there were no positive tests! There will be 
two weekly tests and daily screening.  

There are about 275 players, coaches, officials, and league and broadcast staff in the bubble.

The teams are training at IG Field and two practice fields including Waverly Soccer Complex.  
He thanked the provincial and local governments and Valour FC (the team hosting this bubble).  

This graphic was then shown as the season and playoff format were explained. 



There are eight clubs.  The regular season will be 112 games in length with each club 
playing 28 games.  (The teams play their first eight games in the bubble...East region teams 
playing West region teams).  When the bubble ends the teams resturn to their home market to continue 
the season.  There will be then be 16 games against their home region and 4 against teams 
the other region.  This is to minimize travel and maximize rest for players in this compacted schedule.  

The single table format provides fans with a more competitive season right until the end.  
The top four teams move on to a one match playoff format 1 vs 4, and 2 vs 3 and the winners 
play a one game final at the higher ranked team.  That will be an encouragement to finish as high 
in the standings as possible (to host games).  

They are looking at allowing fans in the stands when the teams move back to their home stadiums 
but that will depend on provincial and local governments which the league will be working with.  

The meeting now moved on to questions from the attendees.  I've listed the approximate time when 
each question in this recording was asked.  

Sound file of the Zoom call...48 minutes  

6:20 min...Will any fans be allowed in the Bubble?  

7:35 min...What is the reason for this four team playoff format?  

9:45 min...What if another Covid wave hits?  

11:45 min...Do you have any other big goals for this season?  

14:10 min...How will the league capitalize on the the men's World Cup Qualifying run 
(and other exciting Canadian soccer news)?

16:10 min...How do you continue to build this better schedule like less mid-week games 
and better kick off times?  

18:05 min...Why did the league choose Winnipeg and not Prince Edward Island again?  

19:50 min...What do you think about the excitement of Ottawa fans who have never seen 
a home game?  

20:50 min...Who/how are you managing the financial burden of the bubble tournament?  

22:50 min...How devastating would another Covid outbreak be for the league?  

24:05 min...What date is the championship game?  

24:25 min...What is the vaccination rate of players?  

25:01 min...How excited are you to welcome U-Sports draftees and future U-Sports players?  

27:05 min...How does the league expand its reach to casual sports fans?  

30:00 min...Has there been a recognition of the Players' Union?  

30:55 min...How do you measure the One Soccer (broadcast) performance in 2020?  

33:10 min...Will you be broadcasting in another language?  

34:45 min...What type of interest are you seeing locally and internationally (ie investors)?  

37:00 min...What have been the challenges and was their ever a moment of doubt?  

38:50 min...What do you see as success for 2021?  

41:00 min...Do you know when League 1 Ontario will start?  

42:00 min...Has their been any interest in the new Single Game Betting laws coming into effect?  

44:35 min...Do double-vaxed players have more freedom to mingle in Winnipeg outside the bubble?  

The meeting closed at the 48 minute mark well inside the 1:00pm to 2:00pm schedule.  All of my 
questions were answered.  I was fumbling around trying to locate the 'raise hand' button 
as I'd forgotten from last year.  I wanted to ask if there'd be any television broadcast like 
last year when the national CBC carried a game of the week on Saturday afternoons and Southern 
Ontario station CHCH carried a Sunday game.  I partially expected the CBC will be pinned 
in with their Olympic coverage at the start but I think if there was any subsequent coverage 
it would be a bragging point in one of Clanachan's answers.  Once the conference ended I played 
some YouTube videos and although many Zoom formats look different with their sub menus, 
I am confident I will find the 'raise hand' icon.   

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
twitter  @RocketRobin01  

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