Atletico Ottawa becomes 8th team in the Canadian Premier League

Professional soccer is back in the capital. David Clanachan Commissioner, of the Canadian Premier League (CPL)made the announcement saying that, “This is an exciting day for the Canadian Premier League, and we are thrilled to welcome Atle?tico Ottawa as our 8^th Club. Bringing soccer to Ottawa has been a priority for us and having the involvement of one of the leaders in global football is something we are very excited about.” The club’s name, Atle?tico Ottawa, is inspired by its parent Club, Atlético de Madrid, a globally recognized team with a storied past, who will bring their values and club philosophy to Ottawa’s team.Clanachan said that  "We're (CPL) looking forward to connecting with the local community for the development of soccer in the country. We want Ottawa fans to be able to feel proud to belong to the great family that is Atlético de Madrid and to share our values with them.

Miguel Ángel Gil Marin CEO, Atle?tico de Madrid said that "We're very excited to be part of a project as beautiful as Atlético Ottawa. We'll work with the Canadian Premier League to share our vision of soccer and bring our experience, and also with the other clubs in the competition to help local soccer grow, as well as learning everything that a spectacular country like Canada has to offer."

Club Atlético de Madrid’s Fernando López will oversee operations for Atle?tico Ottawa with local business leader Jeff Hunt as a strategic partner.Hunt said that,“It’s a great honour for me to partner with an iconic soccer club like Atlético Madrid and I’m excited for the soccer fans in Ottawa/Gatineau. The Atlético Ottawa experience will be a testament to this city, the community and the wonderful supporters and fans the city of Ottawa has.”

The club will play at TD Place at Lansdowne Park which sits on the Unesco World Heritage Site, the Rideau Canal in the city’s downtown core.

The club crest is a reflection of the numerous symbols and structures across our vast country that Canadians would consider “emblematic” of our nation. When you inspect the newest CPL club emblem, you will instantly recognize the symbols within it, like the ornate shields on the Parliament building’s walls that inspired its shape.

CREST BREAKDOWN

The Shape of the shield: The gothic revival inspired exterior of the Parliament building Centre Block is adorned with numerous ornate carvings and materials, many of which were inspired by a wave of patriotism following Canada’s contributions to the war effort.

THE PEACE TOWER

One of the most iconic images in our country is the stately Peace Tower on Parliament Hill whether you’re seeing it up close, or as a silhouette at night. The clock, the flag, the copper ro . . . the “Tower of Victory and Peace” is both a National beacon and quintessentially Ottawa.

THE CURVED ARCH

The Rideau Canal, which runs past Atle?tico Ottawa’s home at TD Place, features numerous bridges, both quaint and substantial. Some are made of steel, others built from stone and even timber, but most of them are distinctly curved. This detail pays tribute to the Canal’s significance, both locally and nationally.

RED AND WHITE STRIPES

Atle?tico de Madrid is known for its red and white stripes, and Canada is known for its red and white flag. Federal Red and Blanc d’Ottawa living side by side, like Ontario and Quebec, English and French.

THE MAPLE LEAF

As the nation’s capital, Ottawa is the city that unifies Canada from Coast to Coast. In the Canadian Premier League, the Spanish and Canadian capitals, Ottawa and Madrid, are now connected through the beautiful game.

About the Canadian Premier League

Canadian Premier League (CPL) is Canada’s professional men’s soccer league that debuted on April 27, 2019. Headquartered in Toronto, ON, the Canadian Premier League features eight clubs from coast-to-coast.

About Atlético de Madrid

Atlético de Madrid was founded in 1903 and is one of the biggest clubs in Spanish and European football in terms of honors, membership size and competitiveness. The men's team has won 10 La Liga titles, 10 Copa del Rey trophies, one Intercontinental Cup, two UEFA Super Cups, two Spanish Super Cups, three UEFA Europa League titles and one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. Atlético de Madrid is currently enjoying one of its greatest sporting moments, having won nine trophies in the last decade and having reached the UEFA Champions League final in 2014 and 2016. These achievements have placed the men's team amongst the top sides in Europe, according to UEFA's club rankings. Club Atlético de Madrid’s leadership includes, President is Enrique Cerezo, and CEO, Miguel Ángel Gil Marín. Diego Pablo Simeone is the coach of a team that includes world stars such as Oblak, Koke, João Félix, Diego Costa and Saúl.

Atlético de Madrid's success would not be possible without the loyalty of its fans, which is reflected in the club's more than 130,000 members, over 800 fan clubs around the world and more than 30 million followers on social media. In the 2017-18 season, the club inaugurated the Wanda Metropolitano, a spectacular stadium with capacity for 68,000 fans and equipped with the latest technological advances. It hosted the last UEFA Champions League final on June 1, 2019, just one year and eight months after it was inaugurated. The match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC was an organizational success as the Wanda Metropolitano became the epicenter of world football.

The club also has a women's team, which is among the most successful sides in Spain. It has won the last three league titles and one Copa de la Reina trophy. On March 17, 2019, the Wanda Metropolitano broke the world attendance record for a women's club match as 60,739 fans gathered to watch Atlético de Madrid Femenino take on FC Barcelon