A highly anticipated 2013 will kick off with a visit from Major League Soccer’s Vancouver Whitecaps FC on February 24 in the 5th Annual Hilton Garden Inn Durham Southpoint Community Shield Match. The newly formatted 2013 NASL Regular Season will consist of a 42-match Spring Season and a 56-match Fall Season concluding with the 2013 Soccer Bowl, the NASL’s championship match. The two distinct competitions will determine which two clubs will participate in the Soccer Bowl.  The Spring Season champion will host the championship match.  The RailHawks will play Canadian rival, FC Edmonton, in both the Spring Season and Fall Season home openers on April 13 and August 3, respectively.  Saturday, April 13 will also be the ‘Grand Opening of the New WakeMed Soccer Park’ complete with a ribbon cutting ceremony by the Town of Cary.

“The new competition format is going to offer RailHawks fans an exciting, playoff-like experience every time they come out to the New WakeMed Soccer Park,” said RailHawks President Curt Johnson.  “The 2013 home schedule is filled with exciting games including; the Grand Opening of the New WakeMed Soccer Park on April 13, Fireworks Extravaganza on June 29, hosting the New York Cosmos for the first time on August 17, and more annual events like Taste of the Triangle, Pig Pickin’, and Soktoberfest.  The New WakeMed Soccer Park in 2013 is going to be an entertaining venue for fans and a tough place for opposing teams.”  

2013 RailHawks Home Schedule
Sunday, February 24              Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS)
Saturday, April 13                   FC Edmonton
Saturday, April 20                   Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Saturday, May 11                   San Antonio Scorpions
Saturday, June 8                    Tampa Bay Rowdies
Saturday, June 22                  Minnesota Stars
Saturday, June 29                  Atlanta Silverbacks
Saturday, August 3                 FC Edmonton
Saturday, August 17               New York Cosmos
Saturday, August 24               Minnesota Stars
Saturday, September 14        Tampa Bay Rowdies
Saturday, September 28        Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Saturday, October 26             Atlanta Silverbacks
Saturday, November 2           San Antonio Scorpions

To view the full 2013 RailHawks schedule visit CarolinaRailHawks.com.

The NASL Spring Season will kick off April 6 and finish on July 4.  A one-month summer break in between the Spring and Fall competitions will allow NASL teams the opportunity to schedule international exhibition games and will coincide with the FIFA International Transfer Window.  The regular season will resume with the NASL Fall Season running from August 3 through November 2.  The 2013 Season will be the RailHawks first season where 10% of the total ticket revenue will be donated to soccer-related programs that will help to further build and strengthen soccer in our community.  

All RailHawks home matches will be played at the New WakeMed Soccer Park and will kickoff at 7:00pm ET.  WakeMed Soccer Park underwent a $6.1 million renovation over the course of the 2012 Season and now boasts new team amenities, 4 hospitality suites, 2 open-air party decks, and second level terrace seating offering amazing views of the field and the entire park.  RailHawks 2013 Season Tickets and the Whitecaps 3-Pack are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the St. Lawrence Homes Box Office at 919-459-8144 or emailing tickets@CarolinaRailHawks.com.  Additional information on 2013 ticket packages is available by visiting www.CarolinaRailHawks.com/STH.