Hamilton’s Forge FC looks to set attendance record with free tickets to opener

Those looking to watch the first-ever Canadian Premier League match live will be able to do so for free.

Hamilton’s Forge FC notified “Co-Founder” season ticket holders on Tuesday that all fans will have free entry to the April 27 game.

The club says it will announce a contest, allowing fans to claim their tickets.

Under a “Soccer Unites Hamilton” initiative, Forge FC say they will try to set an all-time sporting attendance at Tim Hortons Field while expanding the regular available seating from 10,000 to just under 24,000 for the inaugural “905 Derby” match against York9.

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For the season ticket holders who already purchased tickets, Forge FC owner Bob Young said subscribers will receive free tickets, matching the amount in their account, for the club’s Canadian Championship match in June.

“Events like the launch of a national Canadian soccer league don’t come along very often, and we are celebrating accordingly,” said Young. “The whole Canadian Premier League (CPL) journey started in Hamilton almost five years ago, and it’s appropriate that the first-ever CPL match will take place at Tim Hortons Field.”

Young added, “The opening match in our new league deserves to have as many fans in attendance as possible to partake in this ‘I was there’ moment in Hamilton sports history. Our Soccer Unites Hamilton promotion is a small thank you to our fellow citizens who helped make Tim Hortons Field into one of Canada’s premier outdoor entertainment facilities and a destination for elite soccer competition. Thanks to this support, and the reputation it has created for Hamilton nationally as a soccer community, we can now host significant events like the CPL’s Inaugural Match.”

Along with Forge FC, the CPL will launch with six other teams: Cavalry FC (Calgary), FC Edmonton, HFX Wanderers FC (Halifax), Pacific FC (Victoria), Valour FC (Winnipeg), York 9 FC (York Region).

More teams are expected to join in 2020.

CPL games will be broadcast through MEDIAPRO, the Spanish-based multimedia communications group behind beIN Sports.

The 10-year media partnership includes over 2,000 Canadian Premier League games and related content, as well as all Canadian national team games during that span.