The Return of the HFX Wanderers and What It Means for Sporting Events Moving Forward

Written by Naza Yammine

Thumbnail Photo by HFX Wanderers on Instagram

Photo by HFX Wanderers on Instagram

With COVID-19 restrictions slowly being lifted around the world, many events have started to make a comeback. With Nova Scotia moving towards phase 5 of its reopening plan, the anticipation for upcoming sporting events can be felt across the province – especially for Halifax Wanderers games. Though there were multiple chances for fans to get together and watch their team play during the previous restrictions (like the Canadian Premier League playing in a Covid-19 bubble in Prince Edward Island), they were few and far between. This season, however, the team finally began playing games on their own turf with crowds of fans cheering them on.  From watching the games in mini bubbles early on in the pandemic to finally allowing larger crowds under COVID-19 guidelines, fans are now able to attend games as long as they provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test recorded 24 hours before.

Nova Scotians are ecstatic to watch the team that has this city’s heart, the HFX Wanderers FC, play in the Canadian Premier League. What has fans especially excited is the fact that they can show off their Haligonian pride locally, as many games are now being played on the Wanderers ground in downtown Halifax! Considering the province is still in phase 4, the games are organized in a way that continues to follow guidelines to ensure safety while fans cheer on their favorite team.

HFX Wanderers’ President Derek Martin spoke up about the enforcement of these guidelines in order to safely enjoy the thrill of watching soccer live while simultaneously respecting everyone’s right to personal choice. He stated: "Our club’s mission has always been to make our community stronger through sport and at this point, we feel this decision is important both pragmatically and symbolically as our community continues to work through the challenges and risks presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Together we will find our way forward."

Photo by HFX Wanderers on Instagram. Player Alex Marshall.

The first game played on Wanderer’s ground on August 2 was prepared to hold a capacity of nearly 4,000 spectators. The organization worked alongside public health to ensure that the game would adhere to public health measures, creating 16 zones of 250 spectators each. The event turned out to be a success, with the Wanderers beating Atlético Ottawa 2-0. This was exciting for fans and team alike, as the Wanderers only had one season under their belt before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Many team members signed on to the team only a few months before the pandemic, and therefore had considerably less experience playing as a Wanderer. Back in 2020, the Wanderers began their training camp to get back on track without even knowing if the Canadian Premier League would take place. Considering the league has only been around for three years, with the first kick off back in 2019, as well as the uncertain situation of the ongoing pandemic, it was a relief that competitions were able to continue taking place. The Wanderer’s recent wins prove that their training and hard work truly paid off, as they continuously beat or at least tie with opponents. 

The pride Wanderers fans hold for their team helps to fuel the economy during home games and bring life to downtown Halifax thanks to the celebrations and pre-game cheers city-wide. The impacts of this ambiance are not limited to the city, but team performance as well. Athletes have always been part-players, part-performers, eager to entertain and excite fans. The cheers from the stadium, the constant support, and the looks of wonder in the eyes of the spectators give purpose to athletes, pushing them to perform to the best of their abilities. Hence, it is normal to feel as though a lack of crowd response may affect focus, effort, and even strategy as for most of the pandemic, sporting events were watched from a televised distance. Even Lebron James expressed the importance of fans in a simple and casual statement he made back when no one understood the severity of the Covid-19 virus: “We play games without the fans? Nah, it’s impossible.” 

During what they called the “bubble league” in Charlottetown, Derek Martin explained how it was mostly a “made-for-TV event”, and eventually demonstrated the value of now being able to play in-stadium games as he expressed: “As much as it is awesome to be playing in P.E.I. and our fans being able to watch, I think everybody has missed that chance to listen to the other fans and hear them yell and scream.” This is why, following the games in Charlottetown and after the first portion of the Canadian Premier League occurred in Winnipeg throughout July with no spectators, teams finally began competing back home and  fans were able to attend games.

Looking to catch a game? The HFX Wanderers will be competing against Montreal in the quarter-final of the Canadian Championship today, September 22, and against FC Edmonton in the Canadian Premier League on September 25, both on Wanderers ground!