Close. We will not comment on the details of that application and given today's announcement we now consider the matter closed."Some fans point to the Canadian Premier League as a source of hope, as a team from Ottawa would play against clubs from other Canadian cities and more exciting rivalries could be developed."There is a clearly defined process outlined in CONCACAF and FIFA rules for sanctioning clubs to compete in leagues in foreign territories," a statement from the organization said.The news wasn't a sure thing for all fans, however: Eric Beevis said Friday's announcement "blindsided" him."I think one day we're going to see, whether it's at TD Place or another stadium ... a team that this city backs behind," he said.Eden said the Fury's departure will leave a "big void" in the lives of local soccer fans.He said when the Fury's season wrapped up a few weeks ago, he felt a sense of "momentum."It is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges."It's sad that this day actually came," said Hooper, who stopped by TD Place to purchase a Fury hat from the merchandise shop.Some Ottawa Fury FC fans say the club's announcement to suspend operations for 2020 is "gut-wrenching," while others say the news left them unsurprised."That was one of my fears last year when they were going through the sanction debacle ... that if they didn't join the Canadian Premier League, maybe one of the steps would be them folding."The Fury, who are owned by the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG), ended up getting permission to remain in the USL for the 2019 season, as was their preference.CONCACAF, one of FIFA's six governing bodies, said on the weekend it was disappointed and surprised by the team's announcement."I don't think this is the end of Ottawa soccer.""Since [Thursday], when the first echoes started floating about on social media, I still haven't been able to wrap my head around this.""For me personally, at this point, I'd like to see a different organization try their hands on a soccer team, because [OSEG] made a lot of mistakes over the past years," said Jon Eden, a member of Fury fan group Stony Monday Riot.To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities).
“People here asking how they can join, how to be supporters.“Our AGM itinerary was written but, once CPL came around, we went down the list and said, ‘this is not relevant, so is this,”’ Brisson-Merrick joked.The stop-start nature of Ottawa’s professional soccer off-season sent Bytown Boys into a tizzy. These are big identities.Both Colverson and Hawkins have seen increased interest in the Bytown Boys and Stony Monday Riot, respectively.“Committed interest is what we need. Why would we cement ourselves with one team?” Brisson-Merrick asked.“That’s the mentality. So, to turn over so quickly, and build on our momentum we finally started to build again, is fantastic.”Soccer supporters of many stripes and wearing different kits gathered this past week at a fan event held at one of the city’s favourite watering holes near TD Place Stadium, which will serve as Atlético Ottawa’s home for the 2020 CPL season.“I’ve had more people reach out to me on the rumours, to talk about the club more than ever,” said Hawkins, referencing the Fury’s seven-year run “People who aren’t necessarily soccer fans know it’s an important thing. For founding member Matt Hawkins, Club Atlético de Madrid’s investment in the CPL offers a chance to bring more soccer fans in Ottawa into the fold.Whether Ottawa’s professional soccer scene grows with the addition of Atlético Madrid and the Canadian Premier League remains to be seen. Between 2003 and 2014, the Ottawa Fury W-League team managed to win nine division titles, made the national finals on three occasions and were league champions once. There are a lot more opportunities.“Let’s not bicker, let’s get back to it,” said Stephane Brisson-Merrick, who serves as the sergeant-at-arms for the Ottawa supporters group Bytown Boys.“There has been so much interest outside of our group since this announcement,” Colverson said.