The Canadian Premier League (CPL) today announced the winners of the league’s inaugural CPL Business Awards, which honour outstanding achievements at both the team and the executive level in areas such as ticketing, partnerships, merchandise, fan and community engagement, and more.
“Every year we recognize outstanding performances on the field, but there is so much more than on-field success that goes into making this league what it is,” said Glen Johnson, Executive Vice President, Canadian Premier League. “It was important to us to start recognizing the off-field achievements that can go under-appreciated, and it was a pleasure to give just some of the hard-working people in this league the credit they deserve for making the CPL’s milestone fifth season our most successful yet.
“In launching both a league-wide business summit and the CPL Business Awards in 2023, we are building relationships and establishing best practices between our member clubs from coast to coast that will help inspire and incentivize all of our teams as they continue to look for ways to evolve in their individual markets.”
Atlético Ottawa came home with a total of five awards from the CPL Business Awards ceremony. These included the prestigious Club of the Year, the Community Impact Award, the Social Media Activation of the Year along with two ticketing honours: Top Group Sales and Top Single Match Sales.
“We are very pleased with our performance this season off the pitch,” said Fernando Lopez, CEO, Atlético Ottawa. “The results of a full team effort in the front office led to these league acknowledgements. Soccer in the capital is growing every day and we are seeing it in the crowds, in the community, and now in this recognition from the league. We are honoured and vow to use these successes as a launching pad for even bigger things in 2024.”
The 2023 CPL Business Award winners include:
Club of the Year
Awarded to the club that best represented the CPL in 2023 by fostering a strong internal culture, making a difference in the community, establishing meaningful relationships with fans and partners, generating revenue, interest, and engagement, encouraging innovation, demonstrating a long-term vision for sustainable business growth and contributing to the growth of soccer in Canada.
Winner: Atlético Ottawa
After hosting the largest crowd ever to attend a CPL Final in October 2022, Atlético Ottawa set league records in 2023 for year-over-year increases across several categories in 2023, including tickets sold, ticket revenue, group tickets sold and sponsorship revenue. Ottawa not only welcomed more fans to its environment this season, the club found new, inventive and impactful ways to engage with its community by introducing Wally the T Rex as the club’s new mascot, organizing another Pay What You Can Home Opener in support of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and Lil’ Kidneys and launching a poignant “Making it to Safety” jersey in support of Shelter Movers Ottawa and dedicated to survivors of Intimate Partner Violence.
2023 Club of the Year
Awarded to the club that best represented the CPL in 2023 by impacting community, establishing relationships with fans and partners and demonstrating a long-term vision for growth of soccer in Canada.
Read More: https://t.co/0flPUjzm0G pic.twitter.com/H1M76AyiL6
— Atlético Ottawa (@atletiOttawa) December 1, 2023
Community Impact Award
Awarded to the club that best demonstrated a desire and commitment to engaging with, and understanding, its local community through innovative, consistent, and relevant outreach that resonated with supporters and community members.
Winner: Atlético Ottawa
Atlético Ottawa made an impact on its community right out of the gates for the third season in a row, by hosting another Pay What You Can match for its 2023 home opener. A portion of each ticket sale at TD Place Stadium on April 15 was donated to CHEO, with additional funds raised from in-game events. As part of the match, Atlético Ottawa also honoured Lily Millett, a patient at CHEO, who represented the hospital at the home opener. Lily, who was diagnosed with a kidney disease, launched a fundraising effort called Lil’ Kidneys to help purchase new equipment for CHEO. Atlético Ottawa’s fundraiser for the hospital allowed it to support a cornerstone in the Ottawa community.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD
Atlético Ottawa made an impact on its community for the third season in a row, by hosting another Pay What You Can match for its 2023 home opener.
A portion of each ticket sale was donated to CHEO
— Atlético Ottawa (@atletiOttawa) December 1, 2023
Social Media Activation of the Year
Awarded to the club that produced the most impactful and engaging social media campaign and/or activation.
Winner: Atlético Ottawa
Atlético Ottawa turned a beloved fan-led initiative into a beloved new mascot when it introduced Wally the T Rex in August 2023. From engaging the Capital City Supporters Group to tell Wally’s origin story to engaging “Dino Expert” Dr. Henry Wu of Jurassic Park lore to help usher in a new era at the club, Ottawa found creative and engaging ways to connect Wally with fans through social media and other digital platforms. The work the club put in to not only select the right mascot for the franchise but introduce him in a lighthearted and fun way, with the backing of their supporters, quickly made Wally a success both on social media and in person.
SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVATION OF THE YEAR
We turned a beloved fan-led initiative into a beloved new mascot when it introduced Wally the T-Rex in August 2023.
With the help of @CapitalCitySG the launch of Wally The T-Rex was a success
— Atlético Ottawa (@atletiOttawa) December 1, 2023
Full 2023 Canadian Premier League Business Award Winners:
Top Group Sales (Tickets Sold) – Atlético Ottawa
Top Group Sales (Revenue) – Forge FC
Top Single Match Sales Promotion (Tickets Sold) – Atlético Ottawa
Top Single Match Sales Promotion (Revenue) – Halifax Wanderers FC
Top Season Seat Member Net Growth – Forge FC
Top Season Seat Member Retention – Halifax Wanderers FC
Top Partnership Sales Team – Cavalry FC
Top Jersey Sales (Units) – Forge FC
Top Jersey Sales (Revenue) – Pacific FC
Fan Engagement Award – Cavalry FC (1975 Club presented by Carscallen LLP)
Partnership Activation of the Year – Forge FC (Championship Medal Giveaway)
Social Media Activation of the Year – Atlético Ottawa (Wally the T Rex Campaign)
Community Impact Award – Atlético Ottawa (Pay What You Can Home Opener)
Business Executive of the Year – Derek Martin, President & Founder, HFX Wanderers
Club of the Year – Atlético Ottawa
Commissioner’s Award – Josh Simpson, President, Pacific FC, Dean Shillington, Owner, Vancouver FC, and Rob Friend, President, Vancouver FC