Dec 29 — Editor’s Note: #3 of the Top 10 Articles of 2022.
HIGH POINT — One of High Point’s biggest announcements this year was that the professional men’s soccer team will play their home matches at Truist Point Stadium from 2024.
Carolina Core FC, short for football club, competes in the MLS Next Pro, Major League Soccer’s training league, playing 12 to 20 home games at Tryst Point Stadium from spring through fall. High Point Rockers baseball team.
“Our partnership with Carolina Core FC is another opportunity to position Truist Point Stadium as a destination for all to come and enjoy,” said Mayor Jay Wagner. Our investment in the stadium aligns with our original vision for a multi-purpose stadium, and we are excited to welcome football fans in the near future.”
The team is formed by local owners and includes principal investor Megan Oglesby and brothers Matt and Mark Penley, Oglesby’s cousins.
They are part of the Condon family that founded the Old Dominion Freight Line. Owner has purchased a separate membership within MLS Next Pro.
“By bringing the world’s game to Carolina Core, we offer myriad opportunities for those looking to access the sport and empower their community on and off the field,” said Principal Investor and Managing Partner. Oglesby said. “This is much more than a financial investment for our group. It is a long-term investment in individuals and communities with untapped potential and a key driver of economic development in the region. will be.”
She hired High Point native and National Soccer Hall of Fame member Eddie Pope as the team’s chief sports officer. This is similar to the General Manager role.
A graduate of Southwest Guildford High School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Pope had an 11-year professional MLS career and three World Cup appearances with the US Men’s National Soccer Team.
“I couldn’t be more excited about the arrival of MLS Next Pro Club here at the Carolina Core,” said Pope. “Our vision is to create a lifelong connection between the club and the fans by providing a path for the best young talent in the region to play professionally, uniting the community and fostering diversity, equity on and off the field. , embracing inclusivity.”
The city will pay for the renovation of the stadium to accommodate professional football. These include replacing the existing artificial turf to bring the playing surface 20 feet closer to the seating area, with a sharper angle to the field to meet the color, pattern, and playability standards of both baseball and soccer. A portion of the first base grandstand that bends into the ground must be removed. , build an unfinished space to house the football locker room.
