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CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery announced Tuesday the 2021 season’s home opener at Patriots Point. The Black and Yellow will play host to regional rival Charlotte Independence Friday, May 14, at 7 p.m. The first match back in the new stadium at Patriots Point will welcome fans as the club opens attendance to 50% capacity to start the 2021 season.

“We’ve been building towards this for a long time now,” said club executive chairman Rob Salvatore. “And while we were able to share a preview of what the new era of the Battery at Patriots Point will look like with a few fans last season, now that we have a date, an opponent, and the ability to open our doors, we are very excited. The anticipation and excitement will continue to build as the team trains and we prepare the stadium for the opener. We couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity to showcase the club in our new home come May 14 against a rival like Charlotte Independence.”

Tickets for the Battery’s May 14 home opener against Charlotte are now available online through SeatGeek, the club’s exclusive new ticketing provider. Attendance will be limited to 50% stadium capacity to start the 2021 season, in accordance with state and local guidelines, with tickets available in groups of 2 to 4 fans to allow for spacing as possible. “We’ve come a long way since the early days of the pandemic,” Battery head of community Scott Krenitski noted. “We’re excited to welcome more fans to Patriots Point and give the community the chance to create a gameday atmosphere unique to this amazing city.”

The Battery kicked off preseason training on Tuesday, March 16, and are scheduled to play a series of friendly training exercises and exhibition matches leading up to the start of the 2021 regular season this May.

“Playing Charlotte and opening up with fans is going to be fantastic,” added Battery head coach Michael Anhaeuser. “The home opener’s always an exciting day. We want to start off how we finished at home last year and really showcase our team to the community. That’s the start of our season at home and we’re very excited.”

The Battery’s full schedule for the 2021 season is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets to the May 14 home opener are on sale now!

The Charleston Battery announced Wednesday an additional preseason match leading up to the start of the 2021 regular season.

Greenville Triumph SC visit Patriots Point to face the Battery on Friday, April 2. It marks the first time the Triumph head to the Battery’s new stadium at Patriots Point. The match is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

Due to ongoing construction in the stadium at Patriots Point ahead of the 2021 season, the April 2 friendly against Greenville will be closed to the public.

The Charleston Battery have formed a unique partnership with Onyx Elite, a leading strength, conditioning and training provider based in Richmond, Va. Founded by former U.S. Men’s National Team mainstay Oguchi Onyewu, Onyx will assist in the development and implementation of individualized training programs for the Charleston Battery roster during the 2021 season.

Onyewu and the Onyx Elite team have incorporated training systems for world-class athletes including NBA players, NFL players and numerous members of the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team. Through the Onyx Plus program, Onyewu and lead trainer Chris Gorres will work with the Battery technical staff to incorporate adaptable training systems based on the needs of each individual player.

“I had been watching Gooch and Chris’s work, what they have done with a number of elite athletes,” said Battery assistant coach John Wilson. “Collaborating with a group focused in sports science like Onyx, who can get specific with what our guys need, it adds an edge to our training programs” 

“We’re excited to be partnering with a historic club like the Battery and help facilitate additional strength, conditioning, and training opportunities for their players,” said Onyewu. “It means the world to us that the team has that level of trust and commitment in our ability and we look forward to collaborating on this season’s training programs.”

Speaking further on the partnership with Onyx Elite, Wilson added, “It’s very exciting to be able to work with someone who has established themselves as an elite training program provider. As a coaching staff, we look for the best and ensure that any partners we work with are a good fit with what we do here in Charleston – Onyx is the best and most capable to supplement our training and get the best performance out of each player.”

The Battery kick off the preseason this month as they travel to a series of friendlies against Atlanta United, Minnesota United FC and Inter Miami CF. The preseason wraps up ahead of the 2021 USL Championship Regular Season starting in May with additional preseason exhibitions at Patriots Point expected to be announced soon.

Get ready for the 2021 season and lock in your seats at Patriots Point with our new Season Memberships starting as low as $10 per match!

There’s nothing quite like waking up on match day to a flavorful cup of coffee. The Charleston Battery have teamed up with Springbok Coffee Roasters to bring coffee enthusiasts the Charleston Battery Blend – a custom local roast now available! The new special roast by Springbok features bold notes of rich dark chocolate and sweet molasses while providing a smooth hazelnut finish.

“As a team, we want to deliver to our fans the best Charleston has to offer,” said Scott Krenitski, the Battery’s Head of Community. “Collaborating with Springbok Coffee Roasters, we found a partner that shares that goal. We’re excited about the new Battery Blend and providing fans a locally-created roast for their morning routine.”

The new Battery Blend by Springbok is now available for purchase online and at the Charleston Battery Pop-Up Shop @ The Vault on King Street. Sold in whole bean and ground varieties, fans can grab a single 12 oz. bag of this high-quality local roast for $14.95 or three bags for $40. Grab yours today!

The Charleston Battery announced an initial slate of preseason friendlies Wednesday ahead of the 2021 regular season. A trio of fixtures against familiar MLS sides kicks off on March 20 as the Black and Yellow head to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground to face Atlanta United.

The Battery will then travel south to face Minnesota United FC on March 27 at the Dewey O. Boster Sports Complex in Deltona, Fla. The preseason bout is the second match in as many seasons after seeing the Loons on the pitch during a 2020 preseason exhibition.

The tour is rounded off as the Battery play Inter Miami CF on March 30 at the Herons’ training ground, IMG Academy, in Bradenton, Fla. Charleston were the first team to face Inter Miami CF in a live match last year before the Miami side kicked off their inaugural MLS season.

At this time, the first slate of preseason matches will be closed to the public. Additional exhibitions to finish out the preseason will be announced soon. Fans can stay tuned for more updates on the 2021 season by following on Twitter and Instagram or subscribing to the Battery newsletter.

The Charleston Battery announced Wednesday the grand opening of its first brick and mortar retail presence in downtown Charleston. The official Charleston Battery Pop-Up Shop opens Friday, March 5. Located within The Vault Retro Sports Apparel at 322 King Street, the pop-up will provide Battery fans and Charleston visitors alike with a wide selection of team gear including game jerseys, t-shirts, hats, hoodies, and more.

“Having a physical presence in the heart of Charleston for fans to stop by and purchase their favorite team gear has been a goal of ours from day one,” said Battery Executive Chairman Rob Salvatore. “Since relaunching our brand in late 2019, we have been able to produce high-quality, beautiful Battery merchandise and are excited to make it more widely available through our King Street location.”

The new pop-up shop will also serve as a venue for the club to debut new products, host events, and sell tickets for the upcoming season. “We’re very excited to welcome fans this season at Patriots Point and to have a space in downtown Charleston to engage with the city before the season starts in May,” said Battery Head of Community Scott Krenitski. “We have some exciting local collaborations coming soon and the accessible location on King Street means we can launch these collaborations in the community itself.”

Grand Opening Weekend

The official Charleston Battery Pop-Up Shop at The Vault opens Friday, March 5 with an opening weekend full of promotions and giveaways for fans stopping by. From Friday through Sunday, March 7, all Battery gear and apparel will be 15% off. Fans can also stop by and enter to win one of several great prizes including a Battery jersey signed by the team or a daily giveaway for tickets to the season’s home opener at Patriots Point this coming May.

THE CHARLESTON BATTERY POP-UP SHOP @ THE VAULT
322 KING STREET
CHARLESTON, SC 29401

OPEN DAILY: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Curbside pickup is available to customers ordering through the Charleston Battery online team store, shop.https://www.www.charlestonbattery.com.

Face coverings and proper social distancing are required of all customers on premise.

Rivalries revisited and returning foes slated for the Battery’s 2021 regular season.

TAMPA, Fla. –  The Charleston Battery took another step toward the 2021 regular season Tuesday as the USL Championship announced its league alignment for the upcoming season. The league will feature 31 teams across four divisions and two conferences. The Battery will compete in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.

Charleston renew rivalries with 2020 Group H foes Tampa Bay Rowdies and Miami FC, and welcome new opponents to the 2021 campaign with Charlotte Independence, Hartford Athletic, Loudoun United FC, New York Red Bulls II and fellow black-and-yellow side Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC rounding out the new Atlantic Division.

The league’s four divisions are aligned across the country creating the Atlantic, Central, Mountain and Pacific Divisions. The Atlantic and Central Divisions will comprise the Eastern Conference, while the Mountain and Pacific Divisions will set up the Western Conference.

“To be able to play a few more teams is going to be exciting, and still play Tampa Bay and Miami, these rivals that we’ve had the past few years,” said Head Coach Michael Anhaeuser. “And getting back to playing Pittsburgh, New York Red Bulls, Hartford, we’re really excited.”

During the regular season, the Battery will face Atlantic Division opponents four times – twice home, twice away. In addition, the four remaining games will be played against regional or cross-conference opponents.

As previously announced by the league, the Championship’s regular season will kick off on or about May 1st, with a flexible date range between April 24th and May 15th reserved to allow for clubs to begin play. 

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

The Charleston Battery announced Friday the signing of Burke Fahling. The 5-8 midfielder joins the Black and Yellow for his first professional season after a college career with Seattle University and the University of Memphis.

Fahling made 26 starts for the Tigers, recording two goals and seven assists in 33 appearances. After transferring to Seattle University, Fahling made appearances in 20 games including a 2019 season opener where he recorded a goal and two assists from his spot at midfield.

An all-state player at Inglemoor High School, Fahling was the leading scorer in King County, Wash. and named the county’s Most Valuable Player. He also suited up for both the Crossfire Premier Soccer Club and Seattle Sounders Youth Academy programs prior to his collegiate career. “The level of play in Seattle, just the number of good players from the area, it’s a great environment to come up in,” Fahling said of his early career.

Fahling caught the attention of the Battery late last year. “Burke is an exciting two-way midfielder that we were able to find through our offseason combines and invited to local trials,” Head Coach Michael Anhaesuser said of Fahling. “He is a tireless worker and brings that quality and edge we are looking for in the middle of the field. We look forward to him starting his professional career with the Battery.”

On beginning his pro career in Charleston, Fahling added, “One of my favorite things about the sport is the fight. I’m really excited to compete and looking forward to playing with and against quality players at the professional level.”

Are you in for 2021? Get the best seats and exclusive benefits as a Battery Season Member! Memberships start at $160 for the season and are on sale now. Click here to pick your seats and unlock exclusive benefits as a 2021 Season Member today!

The Charleston Battery announced Wednesday the addition of defender Erik McCue to the 2021 roster. McCue joins the Black and Yellow on a season-long loan from Houston Dynamo FC of MLS.

The 6-3 Swedish defender came up through the Dynamo Academy before signing a Homegrown Player contract with Houston’s first team in October 2018. His professional debut was on March 29, 2019, while on loan with Rio Grande Valley FC. McCue registered 5 starts in 7 appearances during his time with the USL Championship side.

As an academy player, McCue was named the U-17 Player of the Year, the Players’ Player of the Year and received the Academy’s Ricardo Clark Leadership Award prior to signing with the Dynamo’s first team.

“I’m excited to join such a strong side in the USL that has a winning culture,” McCue noted. “I look forward to the season and making the most of this opportunity.”  McCue’s size and experience joins a formidable backline that includes Jarad van Schaik, Leland Archer, Logan Gdula, AJ Paterson and Temi Adesodun, all returning for the 2021 season.

The USL Championship season is just around the corner! Battery Season Memberships are now on sale starting at $10 per match. Click here to pick your seats and unlock exclusive benefits as a 2021 Season Member today!