"We are pleased to return to Quebec City because it’s a unique opportunity to play in front of fans from the region," said De Santis. "The atmosphere and the crowd’s support have always been amazing and it’s certainly something that we missed last year. We’re already looking forward to going back.”
“We are thrilled to host the Impact, on behalf of all soccer fans in the Quebec City area,” said Danny Poirier, General Manager of the Club de soccer des Rivières de Québec, the organization which has spearheaded the Impact’s visits in Quebec City since 2002. “The popularity of the team has been established and the support from the Quebec Regional Soccer Association, the soccer clubs and the PEPS will once again help us to ensure the event’s success.”
United Soccer Leagues First Division scheduling constraints, coupled with the limited availability of PEPS Stadium, had prevented the club from playing in Quebec City last year.
The Impact will also return to the Eastern Townships, on Sunday, July 8, as the Impact will face the Carolina RailHawks for a regular-season game at Sherbrooke University Stadium.
Since its inception, the Impact has played five games in the Quebec City area. A first match-up was held in 1996, in front of 5,344 soccer fans. The event was then repeated in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, each time in front of larger crowds. On August 14, 2005, 12,128 spectators — a record crowd for a game played in Quebec City — cheered on the Impact at PEPS Stadium against the Puerto Rico Islanders. In five games, a total of 41,319 fans have seen the Impact play in Quebec City, for an average of 8,264 per game.
Playing a "home" game away from Claude-Robillard Stadium has become a tradition for the team, which has also played in Shebrooke and Ottawa over the years. The Impact is unbeaten in 10 home games played away from Montreal (9-0-1).
The Impact will kick off the 2007 USL D1 season on Sunday, April 21 against the Atlanta Silverbacks The Montreal club will play the 14th home opener of its history at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex on Sunday, May 20, against the Seattle Sounders.
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668 (ext. 27)
