The Essentials
Club: Charlotte Independence
Stadium: American Legion Memorial Stadium — 310 N Kings Dr, Charlotte, NC 28204. 9,300 seats. A rebuilt historic ground in the Elizabeth neighborhood — U-shaped bowl, FIFA-certified turf, skyline views.
Tickets: Available at tickets.charlotteindependence.com. No designated away section — grab seats on the visitor side and bring your energy.
Nearest Airport: Charlotte Douglas International (CLT), approximately 10 miles west of the stadium.
Driving from Fort Wayne FC Park: Approximately 585 miles via I-69 S to I-75 S to I-77 S, roughly 9.5 hours nonstop.
Parking & Transit: On-site lots open two hours before kickoff, there will be a nominal cost ($). The CityLYNX Gold Line streetcar stops at CPCC and Elizabeth/Hawthorne, both a short walk from the ground. Rideshare pickup/dropoff at the main entrance on Kings Drive. Don’t park in CPCC lots — you’ll get towed.
Weather: Humid and warm March through October. Early season can dip into the 50s with rain; summer pushes into the low 90s. Dress light, bring sunscreen, keep a rain layer handy.
Where to Stay
The Ivey’s Hotel is the splurge — a 42-room boutique gem in the former Ivey’s department store on North Tryon, with the kind of polish that makes Uptown feel like a real city. The Dunhill Hotel is Charlotte’s lone historic hotel, open since 1929, with character for days at a more moderate price. For budget-friendly, the Home2 Suites in Uptown is clean, simple, and close to everything that matters. Stay in or near Uptown and you’re a quick rideshare from the stadium and the best neighborhoods.
Eat & Drink
Alexander Michael’s is the one. A Fourth Ward neighborhood tavern that’s been pouring pints and plating comfort food since 1983. The regulars treat it like a living room. Don’t skip the shrimp and grits.
Haberdish in NoDa serves family-style Southern food in a space that feels like it was pulled from a mill village time capsule. Get the fried chicken and the sweet potato dumplings, order too much, and share everything.
Lang Van is Charlotte’s pho temple. A no-frills Vietnamese spot on Shamrock Drive with 11 varieties of beef pho that’s been earning devotion for decades. Cash-friendly, generous portions, zero pretense.
300 East on East Boulevard in Dilworth has been a neighborhood anchor since 1986 — farm-to-table before the term existed. This is your best sit-down dinner. The menu changes with the seasons and the shrimp and grits are legendary.
NoDa Brewing Company is the move for craft beer. Charlotte’s original craft brewery has a taproom and beer garden on West 32nd Street that’s made for lingering. Grab a Hop, Drop ‘N Roll IPA and settle in.
Resident Culture Brewing in Plaza Midwood rounds it out — artsy, great hazy IPAs, and live music on weekends. If you want to bar-hop, the rooftop at nearby Burial Beer Co. is worth the walk.
Things to Do
The U.S. National Whitewater Center is the crown jewel — 1,300 acres of trails, whitewater rafting, zip lines, and mountain biking on the world’s largest artificial whitewater river. Unlike anything in any other USL city, and worth half a day minimum.
Walk the NoDa Arts District for murals, galleries, and the kind of funky creative energy that makes a neighborhood feel alive. Camp North End — a former Ford factory turned food, art, and event space — is another only-in-Charlotte experience worth exploring on foot.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame in Uptown is a must even if motorsports aren’t your thing. Interactive exhibits, great storytelling, and a window into Charlotte’s deep roots in racing culture.
The One Thing
Spend a morning at the Whitewater Center. Raft the rapids, hike a few miles of trail, then grab a beer at the on-site taproom overlooking the river. You’ll be talking about it long after you’ve forgotten the final score.