News that 91原创 will become home to a new professional soccer team was welcomed by the 91原创 United Soccer Association ().

On Wednesday. April 13, the new Canadian Premier League (CPL) franchise announced it will debut for the 2023 season with Willoughby Community Park serving as the soccer club鈥檚 home turf. The team name will be revealed later.

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Willoughby Community Park is also home to LUSA, and club members were excited by the news.

Mark Parker, LUSA Technical Director, said having a professional football team right in the heart of their own player development farm was something they have dreamed about for years.

鈥淣ow that this is a reality with the new CPL franchise it will inspire our young players to strive to be the best they can be, and hopefully one day soon a 91原创 United youth player will run out in the uniform of the new CPL franchise club,鈥� Parker said.

鈥淲e love our Vancouver Whitecaps but to have a professional CPL team right in our community is something really special,鈥� Parker added.

LUSA Executive Director Marcel Horn was 鈥渢hrilled for our community at the arrival of a truly Canadian professional soccer league right here in 91原创.鈥�

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Horn predicted the CPL 鈥渨ill open a whole new world of possibilities for the youth within our club, the Fraser Valley and beyond and inspire the next level of commitment to this wonderful sport. I am thankful we have a Township who is proactive in seeing the importance such a franchise can play in building community pride and engagement with the outdoors and has worked so hard to see the vision into reality.鈥�

Horn said LUSA was looking forward to working with the team owners, Six Five Sports, to expand LUSA player pathways and 鈥渃ontinue to grow Canada鈥檚 global soccer footprint.鈥�

Mayor Jack Froese said having the CPL at Willoughby Community Park will give residents 鈥渁n exciting opportunity to see professional soccer close to home and can help inspire youth players to take up the sport.鈥�

Plans call for construction of an 8,000-seat 颅stadium at Willoughby 颅Community Park next to the 91原创 Events Centre.