FC Edmonton confirms Clarke Stadium move, shows off new black-and-blue look

Chris Kooy, John Smits and Matt Lam model FCE's new home, keeper and away kits.

Right now, a blue construction fence surrounds the Clarke Stadium grounds. One grandstand, which holds about 800 people, sits on the site. Within weeks, the facility will be transformed.

When FC Edmonton host the Minnesota Stars for its 2012 home opener, the venue will have capacity for 4,000 seats and room for another 1,000 fans who wish to stand or mill about the grounds. A beer garden will be found on the south side of the field. On the north side, a children’s play area.

FC Edmonton confirmed that Clarke Stadium, located right next door to Commonwealth Stadium and just steps from the LRT, will be the team’s new home as it hopes for a new soccer-specific stadium to be built in Edmonton. And, during a Thursday press conference at Commonwealth Stadium’s Green and Gold Room, FCE also debuted its new Adidas home, road and keeper kits, which sees the black and blue replace the blue and white scheme of the 2011 home kit.

Construction on Clarke will begin April 10, as a reserved-seating grandstand will be erected on the east side of the stadium.

“It’s an exciting day as we continue on the journey to developing a great FC Edmonton team,” said owner Tom Fath.

Fath said it’s now up to FCE supporters to fill the stadium, to show city politicians that the club is ready for its own facility

“It will show we need a stadium for FC Edmonton, so we can control our own destiny going into the future.”

The first team and reserves will play at Clarke, and camps will be held there too. FCE general manager Tom Leip said other community groups who use the stadium will not have their schedules disturbed.

The fact that the field will be 76 yards wide, rather than the tiny confines of Foote Field, will be a huge advantage for FCE, which prefers the 4-3-3 system. Last season, coach Harry Sinkgraven was forced to alter his formation to adjust to the hard turf and tiny dimensions of the pitch.

Season tickets are already on sale. Single-game seats go on sale next Tuesday.

As well, midfielders Chris Kooy and Matt Lam, along with goalkeeper John Smits, were on hand to show off the team’s new Adidas jersey. The team’s home kit will be black with flashes of blue. As explained by the team’s new director of sales, Matt Homonoff (who comes to Edmonton from D.C. United), said more merchandise will soon be available.

The chevrons added to the team’s home blacks and road whites are a salute to the many pyramids to be found in Edmonton, from City Hall to the Muttart Conservatory.

(The 11 will have a new FCE jersey available for fans to win! Stay tuned for more details!)