'We definitely will run out': Pacific FC's championship win sends merchandise and season ticket sales soaring
It was a welcome at the Victoria International Airport reserved only for champions.
When Pacific FC made their way out of the arrivals gate on Monday, they were greeted by cheering fans. Many of those fans have been supporting the team since its inception three years ago.
"The championship is the first of many for sure but that doesn’t diminish the once-in-a-lifetime feeling of it," said one fan.
"This is the championship that we’ve been waiting for," said another.
"Having these fans come out means everything," said Jamar Dixon, a Pacific FC player.
When Pacific FC scored the winning goal in Sunday’s game, a 55-year Vancouver Island championship drought was lifted, and with that comes some obvious benefits.
"Since Sunday night we’ve done quite well," said Alexa Costa, director of partnerships and business operations with Pacific FC. "People are excited to get their hands on (merchandise)."
The league has put out a championship line of team swag. It’s exclusively sold through the team’s online store and the demand has been nothing short of staggering.
"I’m up 73 per cent," said Brad Norris-Jones, vice president of operations with Pacific FC. "I just checked that this morning to where we were last year on sales, so that’s a pretty good up."
If someone you know is looking for a championship shirt or hat this year, you better act fast.
"We definitely will run out," said Costa.
Pacific FC merchandise is shown: (CTV News)
"Since we won Sunday night we have exploded," added Norris-Jones. "Our season tickets are what’s for sale right now."
It’s early days and numbers haven’t yet been totalled, but season ticket sales for next year are on pace to outsell this season’s already.
"Season tickets are definitely up over last year's trending for sure," said Norris-Jones.
Work is already going on behind the scenes to expand the Starlight Stadium to accommodate all those fans.
"We’ll make sure we’ll expand the stadium here so that we can have more fans enjoying this great game of soccer," said Stew Young, the Mayor of Langford.
The City of Langford is currently in talks with BC Hydro about the expansion.
"What’s going to happen is that pole right there will be gone once hydro takes that out in 2022," said Norris-Jones, as he pointed to a giant power pole that runs along the property that the stadium sits on.
Once that hydro pole is removed, Langford will begin work on expanding Starlight Stadium to accommodate an extra 4,000 fans. Included in that expansion will be 13 new luxury suites, bringing the stadium’s capacity from 4,800 to nearly 9,000.
That expansion is expected to be completed by 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.