Carolina Challenge Cup

Event Details

After a one year hiatus, the Carolina Challenge Cup (CCC) will return to Charleston in February 2017. The Charleston Battery will welcome Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Seattle Sounders, Columbus Crew SC, and Atlanta United to MUSC Health Stadium for a preseason tournament.

This year’s CCC will be the 13th staging of the tournament. The Charleston Battery first held the CCC in 2004, becoming one of the first lower-division American soccer clubs to host multiple MLS teams for preseason. The tournament has offered soccer fans in South Carolina the opportunity to see international superstars play in Charleston for more than a decade.

World Cup winners David Villa (NYCFC) and Ricardo Kaka (Orlando City SC) headlined CCC in 2015, bringing a global spotlight to Charleston and the Battery. Both Saturday night doubleheaders in 2015 sold out for the first time in the tournament’s history. This year’s CCC rosters include United States Men’s National Team players Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders) and Ethan Finlay (Columbus Crew SC), former Battery player Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders), and Trinidad & Tobago captain Kenwyne Jones (Atlanta United).

“We are thrilled to bring Major League Soccer back to Charleston, South Carolina for the 2017 Carolina Challenge Cup,” said Andrew Bell, Charleston Battery President. “We always enjoy the level of excitement that these games bring and we look forward to our local soccer fans being able to see some of the very best players in the U.S. right here in the Lowcountry.”

Columbus Crew SC won the first ever Carolina Challenge Cup and returned in 2005 and 2012. Seattle Sounders took part in the tournament in 2012, and will return for the second time this February. MLS expansion side Atlanta United will play some of its first matches against MLS competition in Charleston this winter.

The four participating teams will play in a round robin style tournament with matches taking place over the course of three days in February:

Saturday, February 18th
-Charleston Battery vs. Columbus Crew SC (4:30 pm)
-Atlanta United vs. Seattle Sounders (7:00 pm)
Wednesday, February 22nd
-Atlanta United vs. Columbus Crew SC (5:00 pm)
-Charleston Battery vs. Seattle Sounders (7:30 pm)
Saturday, February 25th
-Seattle Sounders vs. Columbus Crew SC (4:30 pm)
-Charleston Battery vs. Atlanta United (7:00 pm)

All 2017 Charleston Battery season ticket plans include CCC tickets. Season ticket packages are on sale now. Tickets for the 2017 CCC will be available for purchase beginning on Friday, November 25th. Single-game tickets start at $30 and series passes start at $60. Special rates for groups of 15 or more are available. To purchase on November 25th, visit charlestonbattery.com. Tickets will be available for purchase over the phone starting Monday, November 28th by calling the Charleston Battery box office, 843-971-4625.

For more information on the 2017 CCC, visit www.charlestonbattery.com/carolina-challenge-cup.