
The Charleston Battery are pleased to share that the club was honored in the USL Championship’s 2024 Starting XI Awards, end-of-year honors that recognize front-office excellence in the league. The Battery’s own Ben Clemens, assistant director of communications and content, took home the PR/Communications Award after being nominated for a second consecutive year.
The fourth edition of the annual awards, USL Championship clubs nominated their peers for recognition across 11 different front-office categories.
Charleston’s on-field success was met with ample success off the pitch, led by Clemens to generate awareness and excitement at the local, national and international media levels. This included some of 2024’s top stories in Fidel Barajas’ transfer to Real Salt Lake, Trey Muse’s transfer to Portland Timbers, Nick Markanich’s record-setting Player of the Year campaign, and subsequent historic European transfer, and the Battery’s reputation as player development stalwarts.
The Battery were also featured regularly on national television and streaming shows, such as SportsCenter, CBS Sports Golazo Network and ESPN+’s Futbol Americas.
Clemens first joined the Battery’s front office in 2021 to lead the club’s communications and social media, and it marked the second consecutive year Charleston were nominated for the PR/Communications Award. The Battery were also nominated for the Starting XI Marketing and Leadership Awards in 2023.
Congratulations on your award, Ben!
Making an 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐓 in the front office 💼
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) February 3, 2025
Congrats to all of our 2024 Starting XI award winners! 👏 pic.twitter.com/xoPguOwV40
2024 Starting XI Awards Categories
Leadership Award (President of the Year)
Business Excellency Award (CBO/CRO of the Year)
Team Operations Award
Ticketing Award
Corporate Sales Award
Marketing Award
PR/Communications Award (Winner)
Community Relations Award
Digital Award (App & Website)
Consumer Products Award
HR Award