North Carolina Football Club is putting added emphasis on supporting local breweries and distilleries at North Carolina FC and North Carolina Courage games at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Throughout the 2024 USL Championship and NWSL seasons beers made by local breweries including women-owned Bombshell Beer Company and Tobacco Wood Brewing Company, as well as Red Oak Brewery, will be available on gamedays.
Tobacco Wood’s inclusion in the beer lineup is part of a larger partnership between the club and brewery beginning in the 2024 season.
In addition to having a selection of beers available in stadium, Tobacco Wood will be the presenting partner for both teams’ Player of the Month Awards, have sideline signage at games and be one of the club’s catering partners.
Tobacco Wood was founded by Mara and Paul Shelton, along with partners Pierre Gingue and Chris Barrow, in 2018 as North Carolina’s first female, veteran owned brewery and has locations in both Durham and Oxford. The brewery will also host a watch party during the 2024 season. Details of that event will be announced at a later date.
“We are excited to partner with both NCFC and the NC Courage as they continue to grow as a club and expand the reach of soccer locally and regionally. We believe in women supporting women and that soccer (both men’s and women’s) uniquely represents our mission of ‘Good Beer, Good Community,’” TWBC President Mara Shelton said.
In addition to Bombshell’s club-themed Lioness Lager and The Sitter and the Striker, the brewery’s Hazy IPA will also be available.
“Bombshell Beer is super excited for year two of our partnership with the NC Courage and NCFC teams. Making the official beer for both teams has been an exhilarating rush of pride and excitement. It’s the thrill of seeing fans enjoy your brew while cheering on the teams, knowing you’re a part of their game day experience. This year we have tweaked the formula for The Sitter and Striker IPA, dialing back the bitterness and bringing tropical and fruit flavors forward with a change to the hop additions. We can’t wait for fans to try the new Sitter and Striker IPA,” Bombshell Beer Co-Owner Ellen Joyner said.
The brewery will host a watch party on May 1 for the Courage’s road game against the Orlando Pride. Additional information on that event will be announced at a later date.
“Craft beer is part of the fabric of the Triangle community, so offering our fans not only fantastic beer, but beer made locally, was an easy decision for us. Supporting local businesses is important to our club and offering a selection like this at our games is doing exactly that,” North Carolina Football Club President Francie Gottsegen said.
That local selection won’t be limited to just beer, with a selection of mixed drinks and cocktails featuring spirits from the club’s Official Distillery Partner, Weldon Mills, also available in the stadium on game days.
Weldon Mills’ products will be available in the Beer Lounge including the House Vodka and Gin, Rockfish Whiskey, Sabrosa Blanco Tequila and Clap of Thunder White Rum, will be available in the Beer Lounge.
With locations in Weldon and Durham, Weldon Mills distills its bourbon using locally grown ingredients and water from the Roanoke River. All four of the distillery’s small-batch bourbon selections have won platinum and gold awards.
North Carolina FC will open the 2024 USL Championship season at home against the Charleston Battery on Saturday, March 9, at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets are available here.
The Courage will open the 2024 NWSL season at home against the Houston Dash on Saturday, March 16, at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets are available now.
