NEW YORK CITY (November 10, 2022) – MLS NEXT Pro today announced the launch of a new independent team to the League in 2024. Carolina Core FC in High Point, North Carolina, is the second independent team to join MLS NEXT Pro. The first, Rochester New York FC, made the playoffs in its inaugural season in 2022.
“MLS NEXT Pro has four pillars – player development, our local communities, innovation, and a commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. When we started engaging with Megan Oglesby and Mayor Wagner, it became clear to us from our first meeting that we are aligned at all levels.” said Charles Altchek, President of MLS NEXT Pro. “Strong independent teams are a critical component of our growth strategy for MLS NEXT Pro, and we are confident that Carolina Core FC will overdeliver both on the field and in the community.”
Eddie Pope, a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, three-time MLS Cup Champion, and three-time FIFA World Cup participant, returns to his birthplace of High Point, NC, to serve as Carolina Core FC’s Chief Sporting Officer. The former UNC Tar Heel, widely regarded as the finest defense in American soccer history, would supervise all soccer operations for the new club, including technical staff management, player personnel, trades, and scouting.
“I could not be more excited for the arrival of an MLS NEXT Pro club here in the Carolina Core,” said Pope. “Our vision is to provide the pro player pathway for the area’s best young talent, build a lifelong connection between the club and our fans by uniting the community, and to embrace Diversity, Equity and Inclusion both on and off the field.”
Carolina Core FC’s ownership group comprises local entrepreneurs Mike Kren, David Bennett, Leah and Chase Hazelwood, Melissa and Pablo Webster, Alex Moore, and Ryan Burkett, as well as Principal Investors Megan Oglesby, Matt Penley, and Mark Penley.
“By bringing the world’s game to the Carolina Core, we will create countless opportunities for those who want to access the sport and lift up the community both on and off the field,” said Oglesby. “This is far more than a financial investment for our group, this will be a long-term investment into individuals and communities with untapped potential, and it will be a major driver of economic development in the region.”
The club’s name honors the region’s 12 distinct interconnected cities while highlighting the soccer community’s significant local impact. Carolina Core FC’s name is intended to unify the entire area via the worldwide game of soccer.
Carolina Core FC’s home games will be held at Truist Point in High Point. Truist Point will be able to seat up to 5,000 supporters in the soccer layout of the multi-purpose stadium following planned upgrades, giving both players and spectators with a realistic soccer gameday experience.
