721 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Langford not happy. From the City:

The City of Langford remains committed to supporting Pacific FC (PFC) and ensuring the club’s success in our community. However, recent public comments by PFC President Josh Simpson, specifically that the City has not been “exactly simple to work with since Stew left,” are both inflammatory and factually incorrect. It is important that Langford residents are informed of the City’s ongoing efforts and the challenges it has faced in maintaining its partnership with PFC.

From the outset, the current Council has taken proactive steps to support PFC, including approving the relocation of a hydro pole on Langford Parkway to increase usable space on the north side of the field. Despite these efforts, PFC is currently in arrears to the City for over $90,000, which includes unpaid office rent, stadium rental fees, and game-related costs. Further, PFC has not remitted to the City the $1.00 per ticket service charge for any of its home games in 2025, which is intended to support ongoing stadium maintenance. Additionally, PFC owes $691,477.77 under the Indoor Training Centre agreement, an amount the City has held in abeyance in the spirit of ongoing partnership and to allow for continued negotiations of a long-term stadium use agreement.

Beyond its financial obligations to the City, PFC also owes more than $24,000 to the City’s field operator and food and beverage provider, both small, local businesses. While all stadium users are required to pay facility rental fees at the time of use, the City has allowed PFC to accrue a negative balance in good faith. Specifically, and rather than enforcing penalties beyond interest for outstanding amounts, such as locking PFC out of the stadium and office space, the City has chosen to honour the partnership and seek solutions that do not negatively impact fans, families, season ticket holders, or sponsors.

Unfortunately, PFC has remained largely unresponsive to emails and phone calls to resolve the outstanding debts until it requires a renewed stadium use contract with the City. This is a pattern that has persisted annually since the expiry of the initial five-year stadium use agreement, which PFC chose not to renew for an additional five years at their sole discretion.

In addition to not collecting on outstanding amounts owing, the City has consistently demonstrated its commitment to supporting PFC and fostering a successful partnership. This includes providing free advertising on the City’s digital boards, agreeing to amendments to the stadium use agreement such as increasing PFCs share of advertising revenue to 100%, supplying five portable bleachers at no cost for PFC’s recent game at Royal Athletic Park, and committing to hold a referendum on a stadium expansion, at the City’s cost, once PFC signs a five-year agreement, despite current game-day attendance being well below stadium capacity.

Despite these efforts and the City’s continued willingness to find solutions, PFC has been unresponsive and unreasonable in negotiations for a long-term stadium use agreement that balances the club’s needs with the interests of Langford residents. Further, PFC has demanded reduced field rental rates for games and youth rates for practices, despite being an adult, for-profit organization. Such concessions could violate the Community Charter unless equivalent value is returned to the City, and would be unfair to other community-based stadium users.

“Langford has always been proud to host Pacific FC and support its growth in our community,” said Scott Goodmanson, Mayor of Langford. “We’ve made every effort to be fair, flexible, and forward-looking in our partnership. While recent comments are disappointing, our priority remains with the residents of Langford and ensuring that public resources are managed responsibly. We remain open to working with PFC in good faith, but we also have a duty to protect the interests of our taxpayers.”

As noted above, the City of Langford remains committed to supporting PFC and ensuring the club’s success in our community. However, should the relationship become untenable, the City will take all necessary steps to protect the interests of Langford taxpayers.

[Victoria Watcher]

Yowza. Sometimes airing the dirty laundry like that is not positive.

[m3m]

Victoria should swoop in and get them to play at RAP.

[m3m]

It’s tough to re-establish a good working relationship after a letter like that

[Victoria Watcher]

Victoria should swoop in and get them to play at RAP.

It’s hard though, the season overlaps HarbourCats. You can probably change out the configuration in a day but it would require lots of labour to do it.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 19 September 2025 - 12:29 PM.

[m3m]

Sounds like they need to build a new stadium then

[Mike K.]

Victoria should buy the team.

[Lorenzo]

Appears we are in the early stages of Stew's re-election campaign. Next we'll be hearing that he is the only one who can save PFC. I wish Adam Stirling had mentioned this staggering debt load prior to this morning's rant over Goodmanson's bad behaviour. IF PFC is unsustainable let them go. As I taxpayer I object to giving them one dime. Mike, as usual your segment was good.

Edited by Lorenzo, 19 September 2025 - 01:22 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Somewhere in my back pocket I have Valour FC (Winnipeg) financials. Not pretty.

[Mike K.]

Very kind of you, L.

What is up with the $691k debt for the training facility? That’s a lot of money to still be owing.

[Mike K.]

PFC just issued this:

Pacific FC Statement in Response to City of Langford

(September 19, 2025, Langford, B.C.)


Pacific FC is proud to call Langford home and thankful for the support of our fans, local businesses, and the community over the past six seasons. We have invested significantly in the club and to growing the game. Our business is strong, and all our financial commitments are being met or are part of active discussions with the City of Langford.

We are committed to working constructively with Langford and believe that continued direct dialogue, not public exchanges, is the best way to move forward. Our focus remains on delivering high calibre soccer, growing the game on Vancouver Island, and building a bright future for Langford and Pacific FC together.

[LJ]

What is up with the $691k debt for the training facility? That’s a lot of money to still be owing.

The city was trying to get a 5 year commitment from PFC, so they didn't hound them about the money thinking it would be recouped over the next 5 years.

[Victoria Watcher]

‘Deeply disappointed’: Pacific FC’s future in play amid sale and city showdown

 

 

 

It was Pacific FC’s co-founder saying, “The City of Langford has been…not exactly simple to work with since the departure of Stew Young,” Josh Simpson.

 

 

 

[...]

 

 

 

Langford released numbers they say shows Pacific FC owes more than $90,000 in arrears. It includes everything from office rent to stadium fees to what are called “game-related costs.”

 

Goodmanson says the city’s been patient.

 

“We’ve allowed them to be late on their payments…because we know running a professional team is not easy.”

 

The city also points to bigger investments like moving a hydro pole for stadium expansion, and nearly $700,000 waiting in abeyance for the club’s practice facility off Westshore Parkway.

 

 

 

https://cheknews.ca/...owdown-1279391/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 20 September 2025 - 03:43 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Langford returns fire in war of words with Pacific FC

 

The city took issue with comments by PFC’s president that the city ‘has not been exactly simple to work with’ since former mayor Stew Young left, which it called inflammatory and factually incorrect

 

https://www.timescol...fic-fc-11238414

[Lorenzo]

It was a ridiculous statement made by the PFC owner and he should have expected some blowback. Now his financial laundry is hanging out on the line for everyone to see. Life was so easy under the Stew regime yet he was still able to rack up debts and obligations of $700K +/- to Langford. I also wonder how many private contractors and service providers are owed. It makes me wonder what kind of sweetheart handshake deal was made in the first place. The last thing this council should do is enter into a five year deal with this club. They are obviously not viable.

[Victoria Watcher]

One can presume if the team is sold and moved out of Langford these debts will remain unpaid.  

[Lorenzo]

Exactly why it is for sale. 

[Victoria Watcher]

Valour FC (Winnipeg) has similar attendance to Pacific:

 

 

 

Here are their financials:

 

 

[Victoria Watcher]

Snow-joke! Cavalry FC drops CPL title in shocking weather conditions

 

The Cavs couldn't weather the storms of a two-loss team and a winter wonderland to capture a second straight North Star Cup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the way around, it was a surreal evening — decided on a brace by Atlético’s David Rodríguez, including the winner 20 minutes into extra time.

 

The wicked weather, a -8 C night with snow blanketing the pitch and continuing to fall throughout the marathon match, made for a wild and chilly sporting scene.

 

“It’s no game of football, is it?” Cavalry gaffer Tommy Wheeldon Jr. told OneSoccer at halftime. “It’s more like beach football. It’s about positions and areas. I’m not sure it brings out the best in a final. But it’s a final and it’s a Canadian one, and you’ve got to expect this when you’re doing our country.

 

“I still think it’s entertaining. It’s not the football match that we’ve planned out. But it’s the ability to adapt to these conditions in Canada. It still created some excitement and some controversy. The fans are throwing snowballs. Only in Canada, right?”

 

 

https://calgaryheral...ther-conditions

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 November 2025 - 02:04 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

https://x.com/Stokey...893012026847447

 

 

What a shot!

 

I wonder of they had a back-up if the weather was much worse here.   Because that's pretty brutal.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 November 2025 - 11:33 AM.