The World’s most popular game partners with the world’s most popular beverage to create a special soccer club for Charlotte. Charlottetowne Hops FC will begin play in May 2023.
Charlottetowne Hops FC announced today that it has joined the National Premier Soccer League (https://www.npsl.com/) as an expansion team and will begin play in May of 2023.
The new club, led by established soccer entrepreneurs and veteran sports executives Matt Spear, Michael Hitchcock, and Casey Carr, embraces the surging growth of the world’s most popular sport and the Queen City’s ever-expanding and community-driven craft brewery scene.
“Hops” manifests the club's strategic focus on leveraging the beautiful game and the Queen City’s craft brewery community including local breweries as founding partners, craft beer excellence at our games, and cross-promotions aimed at building our community.
Summer Saturday sunset evenings will feature football, a Hops Biergarten, local food trucks, VIP area, incredible merchandise, and team interaction for festive fans and families.
Matches will be played at the CSA OrthoCarolina Sportsplex - the primary venue of club partner Charlotte Soccer Academy, a regional leader and the 7th largest youth club in the nation.
The club led by co-founders Casey Carr, Matt Spear and Michael Hitchcock who have been successful soccer developers for decades will be joined by additional local investors eager to build and support the local community through the game of soccer.
Carr a former NCAA Division I soccer player for DePaul University, current sports business executive, and entrepreneur is a Charlotte resident, proud soccer dad and coach. As an entrepreneur across various initiatives, Casey has assisted in organizing and launching numerous soccer projects, businesses, and professional clubs.
“We believe in the power of sports, music and arts to transform and build community and are excited to leverage that power and combine it with Charlotte’s rapidly growing and incredibly creative craft brewery scene to build a unique game day atmosphere, and other community-driven events throughout the year.”
Spear a Charlotte area resident for over 30 years, captained Davidson College to the Final Four in 1992, was Davidson’s Head Coach for 2001-2018, and was President for the Richmond Kickers (USL League One Pro) in 2019-2020.
“Our mission is to connect people in our community - soccer fans, millennials, internationals, and families - around the beautiful game. The club will provide new opportunities for aspiring players, coaches, executives, and staff to pursue their dreams of moving up to professional soccer.”
Hitchcock played college soccer for VCU followed by 12 years as an executive in Major League Soccer with D.C. United, Colorado Rapids, LA Galaxy, and FC Dallas (as GM). “Hitch” has worked with over 90 professional soccer teams, leagues, venues, and soccer events both in and outside the US.
“Soccer and local craft beer have always been kindred spirits, pardon the pun. Whether it is enjoying a local beer with friends at a friends tailgate party, having a great beer at a live soccer match at the stadium or watching a game at one of Charlotte’s 45 breweries, great beer, and great soccer pair perfectly. We’re excited to bring the beautiful game and the beautiful beverage together in a meaningful way for Charlotte, are you ready to have some fun?
No need to pay a mint for tickets as season packages start as low as $60 for all home games plus discounted merch, an invitation to a training session, kids’ clinic and other events, Premium level seats available at $100 adds a club-branded tumbler with the first beer on the club ownership each game, extra tickets for friends, and an end of the year gift. A free scarf is included for fans who purchase season tickets before March 1st.
Home matches will be played at the CSA OrthoCarolina Sportsplex in Pineville, NC just south of uptown Charlotte. Match days will feel like a Futbol Fiesta for soccer fans of all ages and backgrounds. Hops Biergarten will showcase great local beers from up to 45 Charlotte area breweries. Plus, other cold beverages and locally owned food trucks. The team will interact with fans after each game.
Learn more at www.charlottetownehops.com and follow the club on Facebook(@charlottetownehops), Instagram (@charlottetownehops), and Twitter (@CLTtowneHops).
Announcements regarding Coaching Staff, Open Tryouts, Founding Partners, Game Schedule, Official Jersey and much more coming very soon!
National Premier Soccer League (NPSL)
The NPSL provides an established track record, a nationwide footprint of over 100 clubs, a surging number of new teams, and a smart, sustainable business model. NPSL is at the "4th Division" of the US Soccer pyramid and players are unpaid to keep any current college players NCAA eligible.
“Charlottetowne Hops FC is the most recent success story for the NPSL as we continue to invest in North Carolina,” NPSL Managing Director Cindy Spera said. “The club has developed a unique marketing strategy that connects them to local business partners while engaging soccer enthusiasts throughout the community.”
“We are excited for the NPSL to have a presence in Charlotte,” NPSL Director of Membership Development Dina Case said. “Charlotte has grown tremendously over the years and has become a hotbed for soccer at all levels. Charlottetown Hops brings an experienced and creative ownership group to the table. They have taken a unique approach to engaging the supporters in their community, and we look forward to seeing their plans become a success.”