USL League One clubs announced home openers for the 2023 season today. This also provided an update on Hailstorm FC’s stadium question, while leaving several others unanswered.
North Carolina FC will kick off the season at WakeMed on March 17th, hosting defending champions Tormenta FC, followed by a doubleheader on March 18th where Charlotte Independence will host Richmond Kickers at American Legion Memorial Stadium, and expansion sides One Knox SC and Lexington SC will face off at Regal Stadium in Knoxville.
Hailstorm FC, while awaiting completion of their new home at the TicketSmarter Stadium at Future Legends complex will start the season on the road, with their first home match scheduled for May 27th. The club states that they are “expected to play at Future Legends Complex, which is anticipated to have its auxiliary stadium ready when the Hailstorm’s home schedule starts in May.“
Meanwhile, Lexington SC has not announced the location of their home match, scheduled for Saturday April 8th. Bell Soccer Complex on the campus of the University of Kentucky has been speculated, but details are still being finalized.
Greenville Triumph did not include the location of their home match in their announcement. They previously played at Legacy Early College, which is still listed on their website as home. However, the status of the lease is still up in the air.
Union Omaha will host their opener at Caniglia Field, a soccer-specific stadium on the campus of University of Nebraska Omaha. The 3,097 capacity stadium is a downgrade in capacity, but more in line with their average attendance of 3,407, and located within the city of Omaha. The club hosted a US Open Cup match in 2022 and a pre-season match in 2020 at Caniglia.
Full List of Clubs and Home Openers
| Date | Home | Away | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 March | North Carolina FC | Tormenta FC | WakeMed Soccer Complex |
| 18 March | Charlotte Independence | Richmond Kickers | American Legion Memorial Stadium |
| 18 March | One Knoxville SC | Lexington SC | Regal Stadium |
| 22 March | Fuego FC | North Carolina FC | Fresno State Soccer Stadium |
| 25 March | Greenville Triumph | Richmond Kickers | Triumph Stadium at LEC |
| 25 March | Tormenta FC | Charlotte Independence | Tormenta Stadium |
| 25 March | Red Wolves SC | Hailstorm FC | CHI Memorial Stadium |
| 26 March | Union Omaha | Forward Madison | Caniglia Field |
| 1 April | Richmond Kickers | Charlotte Independence | City Stadium |
| 8 April | Lexington SC | Forward Madison | TBD |
| 15 April | Forward Madison | Greenville Triumph | Breese Stevens Field |
| 27 May | Hailstorm FC | Fuego FC | Future Legends Complex |