Image by Flickr user camknows
Update February 26: Charleston had a draw in the first round.
Update February 23: The tournament schedule for the 2012 Carolina Challenge Cup has been set with the defending champions D.C. United opening the tournament versus the Chicago Fire on Saturday, February 25th
Here's the 2012 Carolina Challenge Cup tournament schedule:
- Saturday, February 25 - D.C. United vs Chicago Fire @ 5 p.m. // Charleston vs Columbus Crew 7:15 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 29 - Columbus Crew vs Chicago Fire 5 p.m. // Charleston Battery vs D.C. United 7:15 p.m.
- Saturday, March 3 - D.C. United vs Columbus Crew 5 p.m. // Charleston Battery vs Chicago Fire 7:15 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now with single day tickets (includes two games each day) starting at just $15 with discounts available for groups of ten or more.
Update November 18: Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew has committed to compete in the 2012 Carolina Challenge Cup.
Columbus will join Major League Soccer's D.C. United, Chicago Fire and USL PRO's Charleston Battery at Blackbaud Stadium, Daniel Island February 25 - March 3, 2012. This is the ninth consecutive year that the Charleston Battery has hosted the Carolina Challenge Cup.
First reporting: Major League Soccer’s D.C. United will return to defend its Carolina Challenge Cup title in 2012.
D.C. United claimed the 2011 tournament title with wins over Chicago Fire, the Charleston Battery and a tie versus Toronto FC. The 2012 Carolina Challenge Cup will be hosted by the Charleston Battery on February 25th – March 3rd, and feature the Battery, D.C. United, the Chicago Fire plus one additional teams from Major League Soccer.
The Carolina Challenge Cup is the premier pre-season tournament in the US. Each year the Battery is joined by three teams from Major League Soccer for the round-robin competition. Beginning in 2011 the tournament also featured a youth element as the MLS teams brought their USSF Academy sides to Charleston for a parallel USSF Academy tournament.
More details on the 2012 Carolina Challenge Cup will be announced in the coming weeks and tickets will go on sale later this month. For more information please call (843) 971-4625 or visit www.charlestonbattery.com.
