The City of Kelowna is aiming to attract a professional soccer team by 2028. Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas and city officials, in collaboration with the Canadian Premier League (CPL), revealed plans for the endeavor. Key priorities include securing an ownership group and investing up to $25 million to enhance the Apple Bowl, the city’s primary multi-sport stadium, to meet CPL expansion requirements.
Mayor Dyas emphasized the positive impact of hosting events on Kelowna, citing past successes like B.C. Lions football games and the Canadian Hockey League’s Memorial Cup. Enhancements proposed for the Apple Bowl entail constructing a new grandstand with a capacity of 3,000 seats, up from the current 2,000, along with new amenities such as locker rooms, a scoreboard, a broadcast center, and converting to artificial turf.
These upgrades would need approval in the upcoming city budget, determined after the fall election where Dyas, alongside challengers like Emily Salsbury and Ron Cannan, will be vying for the mayoral position. The CPL, established in 2019 as Canada’s top domestic men’s soccer league, aims to expand its reach. CPL executive vice-president Marni Dicker expressed enthusiasm about Kelowna’s progress towards hosting a team, highlighting the significance of securing an ownership group for the venture.