Atletico Ottawa kicks off new season at TD Place
Atletico Ottawa kicked off its Canadian Premier League season against the Halifax Wanderers Saturday afternoon at TD Place.
The game ending in a draw but fans CTV News spoke to Saturday are excited for the future.
The home opener was a "Pay What You Can" game for fans, with a portion of each ticket sold and part of the 50-50 proceeds donated to CHEO.
Eddy Benhin, part of the Capital City Supporters fan group, has high hopes for this season. He says Saturday’s warm weather was a perfect way to start what he believes will be a championship season for the club.
"It’s been a long cold winter to wait for soccer to return and the first game it’s summer weather," Benhin said. "We are going to win at least one trophy but I’m going to say we win everything."
With more than 7,000 fans in the stands for the home opener, it was a great day for two charities. Thousands of dollars were raised for CHEO and Lily Miller, whose charity is raising funds to buy a dialysis machine for CHEO.
Thomas Stockting, the communications and community development manager for Atletico Ottawa, says soccer in the capital is on the rise and the 7,000 spectators at Saturday's game is proof of Ottawa’s growing love affair with professional soccer.
"We’ve got the World Cup being hosted in 2026, partly in Canada, we had a staggering success last year winning the regular season and hosing the final in front of 15,000 people," Stockting said. "If you had asked me a couple of years ago if I’d see 15,000 people out for a soccer game in Ottawa, I would not have believed you."
The next Atlético Ottawa home game is April 29 against York United.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
A healthy lifestyle can mitigate genetic risk for early death by 62%, study suggests
Even if your genetics put you at greater risk for early death, a healthy lifestyle could help you significantly combat it, according to a new study.
When you have a moment's notice to evacuate, what do you take?
Knowing what to have at home, or take with you for an evacuation, can be useful and even life-saving.
LIVE UPDATES Michael Cohen will face a bruising cross-examination by Trump's lawyers at the hush money trial
Donald Trump’s fixer-turned-foe returns to the witness stand Tuesday for a bruising round of questioning from the former president’s lawyers.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy license bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Sunchips, Munchies recalled by Frito Lay Canada for possible salmonella contamination
Frito Lay Canada is recalling two of its most popular snacks due to a possible risk of salmonella contamination.
No, a best-selling American writing duo didn't pen a Galen Weston romance novel
You would be forgiven for thinking Christina Lauren's latest romance novel stars a hunky reimagining of Loblaw chairman Galen G. Weston.
Ellen DeGeneres addresses the 'hurtful' end of her talk show in new stand-up set
Ellen DeGeneres is reflecting on how her talk show came to an end in her newest Netflix special, 'Ellen's Last Stand ... Up Tour.'
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.