The Canadian Premier League schedule for the 2023 season is now out and the planning can begin!
With it, we can now see those dates that are absolutely can’t-miss occasions at Starlight Stadium this coming season.
Here are five standout home dates on the PFC schedule.
SEASON/HOME OPENER – APRIL 15th vs Vancouver FC (4 pm)
Another chapter will be written in the storied history – both sporting and culturally – between the Island and the Mainland when the 2023 CPL season opens at Starlight Stadium.
The first All-BC clash against Vancouver FC is going to be a uniquely special occasion for fans on both sides of the Strait of Georgia who now have a next door neighbour to battle against regularly.
There really is no better way to open the 2023 season than under the stars at Starlight with a budding rivalry on display.
MOTHERS DAY – May 14th vs York United FC (3 pm)
What better way to honour the mothers in our life than by treating them to an afternoon at Starlight Stadium?
On this day the visitors are York United, against whom we had some exciting matches last season, which only adds to the occasion around this Sunday afternoon kickoff.
It’s also our fourth home match in the opening five CPL matchdays. Given the home field advantage the supporters here provide, Pacific’s start to the season could be looking very promising by the middle of May.
FATHER’S DAY – June 18th vs York United FC (4 pm)
It’s becoming a theme to bring your parents to Starlight Stadium when York United visit the Island.
Just over a month after the last highlighted home match, we’ve got a match on the day to celebrate the father’s in our life. So if you brought your mother out to see us battle York in mid-May, bring your dad out to see us beat the Nine Stripes again in mid-June!
By this point in the season the league table should be showing the contenders and the pretenders, and we’ll have a good ideas of how well the Tridents’ new signing are performing.
CANADA DAY – June 30th vs Atlético Ottawa (6:30 pm)
There are a couple of reasons this match will be a super fun one to watch.
First, it’s the beginning of the Canada Day long weekend, and second it’s the reigning CPL Regular Season champions returning to Starlight in a rematch of last season’s semi-final. With that, revenge will be top of mind for the Tridents and their supporters.
It’s also just a few weeks before the Canadian Women’s national team begins play at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. We saw the women’s team play at Starlight in 2022 and the excitement in the air was palpable that night. This match can be used as both a springboard for the second half of Pacific FC’s season and as a countdown to the start of Canada’s journey at the 2023 World Cup.
ORANGE SHIRT DAY – September 30th vs Vancouver FC (2 pm)
It’s becoming a tradition for Pacific FC to play at home on Orange Shirt Day, and this year also sees a late-season edition of the newest CPL rivalry when Vancouver come to town.
Orange Shirt Day is always a special occasion here and 2022 showed what coming together around a football match can provide when we focus on reconciliation and respect.
You can definitely expect the same level of reflection and ceremony, as well as the same openness to difficult conversations that happened at last year’s Orange Shirt Day match.
It also happens to be the second last match of the season for Pacific, so the sporting side of the event could make this even more of a can’t-miss match.
Those are just five of Pacific FC’s home matches unveiled for 2023. As more theme nights are announced and rivalries renew and grow, there will be even more reason not to miss a single PFC home match this season.
2023 Season Tickets go on sale to the public Monday, February 6th, however, Pacific FC Insiders currently have exclusive first access to season tickets! Sign up for the PFC Insider List today and secure your seats before the best remaining seats are claimed next Monday!