CARY, N.C. (Feb. 22, 2023) – The North Carolina Football Club announces sweeping upgrades to the fan experience ahead of the 2023 NWSL and USL1 seasons at WakeMed Soccer Park. The changes aim to improve the overall guest experience and were made based on feedback from fan surveys and internal reviews of previous seasons.
“Our supporters are the heartbeat of our club, and they deserve a first-class experience. After joining this organization last year, I made a priority to observe every aspect of game day and sought constructive criticisms from guests to learn where we can improve. We put a lot of work and planning into implementing these changes and we’re excited for our fans to experience the new game day at WakeMed Soccer Park,” said Club President Francie Gottsegen. The enhancements will be on display when the teams open their home schedules on March 17 (NCFC) and March 25 (NC Courage). Below is an overview of the upgrades coming in 2023.
**Game Day Staff **
The game day staff of parking attendants, ushers and ticket scanners will all be hired and trained internally, guaranteeing the faces that greet our fans will be professionally trained and able to properly help and welcome guests from the moment they turn onto Soccer Park Drive.
Introducing FanFest
Entry to WakeMed Soccer Park will have a different feel this year. Starting 90 minutes before kickoff and running through halftime, fans can enjoy inflatables, face painting, balloon artists, vendors, interactive games and more. Players will be available for autographs prior to select matches. Plus, a merchandise truck will be on site for convenient access to NCFC and Courage gear. Various food and beverage trucks will also be on hand throughout the season. FanFest will be located along the outer wall of the North side of the stadium and the gate at the Northwest corner of the stadium will become the primary entrance. This will allow guests to seamlessly flow from the parking lots, through FanFest, and into the stadium.
Concessions
The North Carolina Football Club has reached an agreement with a new concessions partner for the 2023 season, which will be announced soon. The new concessionaire will increase points of service to allow for varied and efficient menus – including grab-and-go options – and will bring a streamlined and efficient ordering process to help lines move faster. New stands are added in the southwest and northeast corners of the stadium and food trucks will be on site throughout the year, both on the concourse and at the newly designed pregame FanFest. Mobile ordering will be introduced this season for added convenience. The new partnership brings back fountain soda and draft beer, promises higher quality food choices and introduces options from local breweries and restaurants that will make WakeMed Soccer Park truly feel like home.
Parking and Traffic Flow
The number of parking scanners will increase to 10 this year, more than doubling the four in previous seasons, to increase the speed of parking intake. Clearly marked lanes dedicated for specific parking lots, combined with the ease of pre-purchased parking, will create a faster, more efficient flow of traffic into the stadium. Specific information on parking and lot assignments will be delineated in match day emails sent to the email address used to purchase tickets.
Merchandise
There will be three merchandise stands at the stadium in 2023 – a container in the Northwest corner by the main entrance, another container in the Northeast corner – near the old merchandise stand, which will become concessions stand – and the merchandise truck inside FanFest. Having multiple points of sale will reduce congestion and increase convenience when buying merchandise. While each stand may differ slightly in stocking, all will have proven fan favorites and a wide variety of options. Fans can also buy merchandise any time online. The North Carolina FC home season begins on March 17 and the North Carolina Courage open play on March 25. Full season tickets and mini plans are on sale now with single-game tickets coming soon. Fans will continue to receive informative emails on game days and follow-up surveys after attending. The North Carolina Football Club appreciates the feedback from previous seasons that has allowed for the strategic upgrades outlined above.
