Cold Lake supports Fighter Jets football club with $10,000

The Cold Lake Fighter Jets, a new team in the Alberta Football League, were given $10,000 from the city last Tuesday. 

Cold Lake will support the new expansion football team.

City council decided to grant the $10,000 ask from the Cold Lake Fighter Jets after team president Damen Schaub and Andrew Heliotis presented at the last meeting.

The money is meant as a “helping hand,” but city council also said they wanted to protect the money, said Mayor Craig Copeland.

“The important thing is council has allocated some funds at $10,000 towards the team. It’s a new startup team in the Alberta Football League, so pretty exciting for the residents of the area to watch organized men’s semi-pro type football,” said Mayor Craig Copeland.

City council and administration structured the motion that would allow $5000 to cover bills related to the football field and $5000 in general funds.

However, the city does not have the keys to the new football field at the Energy Centre and they aren’t sure when the final work will be done.

“We have an amazing field, once it’s handed over to us, it’s still with the contractor, but we’re pretty excited about the project. It has a lot of parking. It’s in a particular location where we wanted it to compliment the soccer fields behind it, for big tournaments, for the soccer community,” said Copeland.

CAO Kevin Nagoya said that the AFL was sold on the venue and the opportunity for Cold Lake during council last Tuesday.

“We’re here to support the team. And so they’re going to work with administration on how the $10,000 will be allocated and we wanted to protect the taxpayer’s money, but at the same time, we want to wish the team success,” said Copeland.

The Cold Lake Fighter Jets senior men’s football club is working on finding sponsorships and available players for their first season.

The Fighter Jets will begin playing games in just over a month’s time on May 25.

Training camp begins in Bonnyville at Walsh Field in early May.