Full of Banks, Beer and Soccer
Post by Scott - 2/27/2025
If you’re lucky, you’ll have a moment where Charlotte becomes home. One of those moments for me was the first Charlotte FC home match. All day, the city practically vibrated with energy. And then the mic cut out on the anthem, 75,000 people sang, and I knew you’d have to drag me out of this town. I was all in on Charlotte FC. I don’t know anything about tactics. I barely understand the rules. I went 0-37 as a middle school girls’ soccer coach. But I’d give a kidney to Patrick Agyemang and please don’t ask me after a huge save if I love my children more than Kristijan Kahlina. The boys are back and you should go! Here are 4 plans for anyone heading to a match this year. And we’re NOT paying for parking*!
Young Families
Take the light rail! But don’t take it all the way because no one wants to be 14 stops from their car when your 4 year old falls apart. From the south, Scaleybark is a great park and ride lot, same with the Sugar Creek stop on the North side. Bonus points for Sugar Creek’s easy access to Divine Barrel. South to north, hop off at the New Bern Station stop and grab dinner and a beer at either Suffolk Punch or Triple C/Izzy’s. Or both. Then get back on the train for the match. From the North, Optimist Hall guarantees great food with a beer at Fonta Flora. You can also swing by Wooden Robot The Chamber for a rooftop beer, especially if the food truck is empanadas. Disembark at the Carson or Brooklyn Village stops for the match and walk the half mile with the crowd. Afterwards, treat everyone to a victory ice cream at Golden Cow before taking the train home.
Soccer-Mad Families
If your kids already debate the superiority of Mbappe over Haaland and know the difference between Scousers and Gooners, head to FreeMoreWest. You can’t park in the Town Brewing lot, but you can park on Grandin or one of the other side streets. Grab a great beer and some awesome food from Town or Legion West Morehead, get a 4 pack to go and then walk to the stadium. I like walking Grandin to the Stewart Creek Greenway which leads right into the main tailgate lot for supporters. Get there early so you can march with the supporters!
Guys/Girls Night
Uber, Lyft, taxi, but you’re not driving tonight. Roll out at the Wooden Robot SE location and then choose your own adventure. You can do beer, cocktails, and dinner there and then enjoy another drink just down the street at Resident Culture SE or start with drinks at Wooden Robot and sit down for beers and dinner at Resident Culture. After that, it’s a half mile to the stadium enveloped in the crowd. The post match key here is you have to stop by HopFly. Tell your partner that it’s to wait out surge pricing, but honestly, just sit on that roof, stare out at the city, and bask in a great night.
Date Night
Whatever mode of transportation, include Trolley Barn for food and drinks. It’s a brewery, sure, but it feels elevated and the food is always on point. After that, act like you don’t have kids and check out Sycamore. I haven’t been cool since the Obama Administration, but I’m cool by osmosis here. Play a quick game of “those condos used to be a…” and then head to your favorite pre-kid South End bar before you roll into the match. Nightcap? HopFly. I’m a sucker for that roof.
*I know I said we weren’t paying for parking, but if you drive, pay for the Legacy 720 garage (obviously named after Entertainment720). Is it expensive? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes. Whatever you spend in parking, you’ll make back up in not sitting in traffic after the match. Straight shot to 277. You’ll be home while they’re still playing Pepas.
Charlotte FC
Soccer! Parking! Two very American things.