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“It’s a different audience. The audience for the National this week is different for the one for the Masters (in September),” he said.

“But I fully expect we’ll introduce it to some people who aren’t aware of it, or how we’re going to do it … there’s tens of thousands of people out for the summer (show-jumping) season.”

That effort is already paying off, he said, with Cavalry FC merchandise going fast.

“We’ve sold out of merchandise already. We’ve had to re-order,” he said.

Since the new club was announced a month ago, 600 memberships, or season’s tickets, have been sold, said Wheeldon.

Ultimately, it’s hoped 80 per cent of the venue’s up to 7,000 seats will be sold as memberships, said Allison.

That soccer pitch will be located on what’s now the Meadows on the Green space, which fits well with the 110-metre by 68-metre international soccer configuration, say proponents.

Field markings can be added and then easily washed off to convert back to equestrian use, said Wheeldon.

And bleachers on three of four seating sides can easily be removed, say both men.

“It’s a two-day turn-around, like turning an NHL building into an NBA building,” said Allison.

The grass will have to be slightly trimmed back to suit cleats rather than hooves.

But it’s that grass that’ll be an added plus for players, said Allison.

“We’re looking to cut the pitch by a quarter of an inch,” he said. “It’s really attractive to players as opposed to turf.”

Wheeldon recalls the day two years ago when he brought up the notion of hosting soccer at Spruce Meadows with president Linda Heathcott.