“We’re giving the players the atmosphere they deserve”: More than 14,000 fans saw last year’s School Day match and the deadline to register your school is coming soon.
The Forge FC School Day Match has quickly become a highlight of Hamilton’s sports calendar, and the deadline for schools to register is fast approaching. More than 14,000 fans attended last year’s event, creating an electric atmosphere, and this year promises to be even bigger.
Schools interested in participating in the second annual School Day Match—set for 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 13 at Hamilton Stadium—must finalize their student and bus numbers by Friday, March 28. The logistical planning required for this event is extensive, with hundreds of buses arriving and departing from a residential area.
Last year’s inaugural game, part of the Canadian Championship tournament, saw Forge FC battle Major League Soccer’s CF Montréal to a 1-1 draw in front of 14,923 spectators—including 11,000 students and staff alongside Forge season ticket holders and casual fans. Just weeks later, Forge made history by defeating Montréal 2-1 on the road, securing one of the most significant victories in Canadian Premier League (CPL) history.
This year’s matchup will see Forge FC face provincial rivals Atlético Ottawa, in a game with potential playoff implications. The rivalry runs deep: in 2022, Ottawa finished first in the regular season, but Forge claimed the championship with a 2-0 victory. Last year, Forge eliminated Atlético with a 1-0 win, securing their place in the CPL final. Expect Ottawa to arrive with a competitive edge, and a packed stadium will only fuel the intensity.
The 2024 School Day Match was such a success that it earned Forge FC the Fan Engagement Award at the CPL Business Awards, recognizing the club for its innovative ticketing campaigns and community partnerships. This year, demand has surged, with more than 160 schools already registered—a 60% increase from last year. A survey found that 21,000 students expressed interest in attending, prompting organizers to enhance the event even further.
Beyond the game itself, the School Day Match offers a unique educational experience. Some schools incorporate it into their curriculum, integrating subjects like history, marketing, computer science, and geography. The stadium experience itself is also a learning opportunity—what Shannon Connolly, Manager of Group Sales and Youth Soccer Initiatives, describes as “learning that transcends the classroom.”
To enhance engagement, the stadium’s video board will feature student-focused programming, including trivia games and fan cams. Special student discounts on concessions will also be available, making the event both entertaining and accessible.
Former Hamilton Tiger-Cats star Courtney Stephen, now Senior Director of Marketing, Sports, and Entertainment for Hamilton Sports Group, emphasizes the importance of this experience for both players and fans:
“We’re giving the players the atmosphere they deserve. If we can create future Forge fans, they’ll want to give that experience to the youth in their own lives as they get older.”
Forge FC’s Head Coach and Sporting Director Bobby Smyrniotis echoed this sentiment, recalling how last year’s crowd wasn’t just 11,000 screaming kids, but 11,000 future soccer fans.
With an estimated 350+ buses transporting students from Hamilton, Halton, Niagara, Brant, Haldimand County, and Kitchener, the Forge FC School Day Match is shaping up to be a thrilling and unforgettable experience. If your school hasn’t registered yet, act fast—March 28 is the final deadline.