Preseason match up with Charleston

The distance looks like less than 300 miles, it makes sense for the teams to play each other for warm up games; did they do this last year?

 

And even before he was involved, the office has always known it's a rivalry the fans care about.

Yeah, I think previously they'd alternated venues.

 

USL Pro’s Richmond Kickers fell 4-1 Saturday to the NASL’s Carolina Railhawks at Ukrop Park in the team’s second preseason match as Brian Shriver had a hat trick for the winners.
Forward Brian Ackley scored first in the 30th minute to give the Railhawks a 1-0 lead. Shriver scored the first of his three goals three minutes later, putting the Railhawks up 2-0 at halftime.
The Kickers’ lone goal came in the 72nd minute from trialist Chris Thomas, who took a pass from D.C. United defender Taylor Kemp–likely to be one of the four players to play with the Kickers for the bulk of the season–and scored, cutting the Railhawks lead to 2-1.
Thomas, who tallied 53 goals with Elon, including 18 game-winners, was the nation’s leading goal-scorer in 2012 with 23 goals in 22 games, was named a Division I All-American and was taken by MLS’s New England Revolution fourth overall in the second round of the league’s Supplemental Draft in January. He helped lead Elon to the NCAA tournament the last two seasons but wasn’t able to stick long with the Revolution during preseason.
Back to the friendly, the Railhawks’ Shriver picked up two more goals in the latter stages of the match to provide for the final margin.
The Kickers return to action Mar. 16 against NCAA finalists Georgetown at Ukrop Park in the fourth annual Pro-Am Challenge at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5.

 

Carolina isn't really marketing this game against the Battery and is actually putting it on one of the fields outside the stadium. Much more focus is being put on the matchup with Pumas UNAM on Wednesday, March 20. And judging from the seats left for sale on the etix site, ticket sales seem to be going pretty well (probably at least 5k sold already?)

I think there could be a great rivalry with Charleston but unfortunately I can't really see that developing unless the Battery move up to NASL and they start playing some meaningful games against one another. Add a NASL team in Charlotte and there could be a true "Carolinas Cup"!

 

Maybe some beers are on the line

 

Or Carolina moves to USL Pro

Not trying to start anything, just giving you guys a poke for old times sake. Always enjoyed visiting Cary & partaking in your tailgating. Good luck this year, maybe we'll see each other in the USOC.