City looking at building soccer specific stadium in Edmonton

Representatives from FC Edmonton, along with members from the NASL, the Canadian Soccer Association and the Alberta Soccer Association met with Mayor Stephen Mandel, city manager Simon Farbrother and the minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation to discuss the club’s future in the city.

PHOTO CREDIT - FCEdmonton.com

Edmonton - September 21, 2012 - Representatives from FC Edmonton (FCE), along with members from the North American Soccer League (NASL), the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) and the Alberta Soccer Association (ASA) met with Mayor Stephen Mandel, city manager Simon Farbrother and the minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation on Thursday to discuss the soccer club’s future in the city.

NASL commissioner David Downs, chairman of the board Aaron Davidson, CSA board member Derryn Donaghey and ASA executive director Richard Adams joined FCE owners Tom and Dave Fath and general manager Tom Leip in the meetings.

The biggest news to come out of the day-long conversations was the mayor’s inquiry into building a soccer-specific stadium in the city, which he put to his executive committee to establish the feasibility of a 10,000 seat, soccer-specific stadium along with a full-field indoor facility.

“There’s clearly a need for this type of facility in the city,” said FCE owner/president Tom Fath. “The outdoor facility is obvious. The indoor facility would allow us to work closely with the ASA and the CSA on its long-term player development plan. The mayor acknowledged it’s time so we’ll continue to work with he and the city, as well as the province, to get this done.”

Fath and Leip will have follow-up meetings with city and provincial officials immediately.

The meetings continue over the next couple of days. Today FCE will meet with council members and corporate leaders. On Saturday they’ll meet with members of the city’s soccer community.