Kelowna Soccer Programs to Expand and Stay Affordable Thanks to Valley First

Soccer balls ready to go at the dome at Mission Sports Fields. (Photo Credit: KelownaNow)

A special announcement at the Mission Sports Fields on Saturday revealed a new deal for the Kelowna United Football Club (KUFC).

KUFC announced a new partnership Saturday with the Okanagan-based Valley First, and organizers say this sponsorship will help the club bring soccer to even more young residents. This new three-year deal with Valley First will help KUFC maintain and develop its dome and facilities at the Mission Sports Fields.

A KUFC player taking a shot on goal. (Photo Credit: KelownaNow)

In addition, this partnership will help keep the KUFC’s soccer programs affordable and enable more at-risk youth to play thanks to subsidized fees. Valley First will become the title sponsor of KUFC and the sports dome itself is to be renamed the Valley First Soccer Centre.

Before this partnership, the dome was privately funded. Now, the new deal with Valley First allows KUFC to stabilize and expand its programs.

Parents, organizers, and players listening to the title sponsor announcement. (Photo Credit: KelownaNow)

“With 5,000 youth and nearly 3,000 adults playing soccer, it is by far the most popular, by participation, sport in the Central Okanagan,” says Mark Krehel, KUFC President. “Providing a place where we can nurture the growth and development of youth soccer in the Central Okanagan has been our goal since we opened our new facility 18 months ago.”

Valley First is also excited about the new partnership. “Joining with the club is a great fit for Valley First,” says Kevin Smith, regional manager for the Central Okanagan at Valley First. “This sponsorship gives us the opportunity to deepen our connection with the Kelowna community while helping a strong, positive, local organization deliver a terrific program.”

Organizers posing with some of the soccer players from KUFC. (Photo Credit: KelownaNow)

Mayor Colin Basran spoke at the announcement, saying this partnership is an excellent one for the community. He pointed out that now soccer teams won’t have to travel as much in the winter now that they have their own space, and that other teams will be travelling here for tournaments as well, bringing their dollars to the region. “It’s going to be a huge benefit to our community for many years to come,” said Basran.

Valley First will also be actively supporting the club’s community activities such as Feed the Valley, which helps local food banks.