Class is back in session on Tuesday morning at Hamilton Stadium as Forge FC host their second annual School Day Match.
With an 11 a.m. ET kickoff, the CPL regular season contest between defending regular season winners Forge FC and top-of-the-table Atlético Ottawa is projected to surpass 17,000 fans. The vast majority of those are students from seven different school boards from Hamilton and the surrounding areas.
The final attendance could surpass Forge's all-time attendance record, and be among the biggest crowds in Canadian Premier League history.
Last year, on May 7, 2024, 11,000 students from over 100 schools were in attendance to watch Forge FC's 1-1 draw with CF Montréal in the 2024 Canadian Championship quarter-final.
The memorable morning saw an outstanding atmosphere, with Forge's David Choinière sending the crowd into pandemonium in the 31st minute when he opened the scoring. Forge would go on to win the quarter-final tie with a 2-1 result at Stade Saputo later that month.
The match is presented in partnership with Stelco, who have helped to make it more accessible for high-priority schools, including inviting more than 1,000 students, as well as helping to offset transportation costs.
“This match is about more than what happens on the field. It’s about giving students a shared experience that builds confidence, connection, and community. We’re proud to work alongside Stelco and our school board partners to make it happen,” said Courtney Stephen, Senior Director of Marketing and Community Partnerships at Hamilton Sports Group in a press release.
Those students will be treated to what is expected to be a thrilling contest between the league's two remaining undefeated teams.
The match will also be available live on OneSoccer, with limited seats available for purchase for the general public.