North Carolina FC Suspends Operations
In a significant shift for the organization, North Carolina FC (NCFC) has confirmed it will suspend operations in the men’s USL Championship for the upcoming season. Instead, NCFC plans to submit an application for entry into the proposed USL Division One league, which is not expected to commence until 2028.
Future Plans and Stadium Strategy
The club expressed optimism in its announcement, stating that the application will initiate a formal framework aimed at establishing high-level professional soccer in Raleigh, with a focus on a robust long-term stadium strategy and a solid market foundation.
The statement from the USL clarified that NCFC’s franchise agreement is set to expire in 2025, and they recognize Raleigh’s potential as a future Division One market, contingent upon meeting specific league criteria that include the development of a dedicated 15,000-seat soccer stadium to catalyze local real estate progress.
Challenges for the USL
This move by NCFC comes at a challenging time for the USL, which is simultaneously unveiling the new Division One league that will rank above the existing USL Championship, League One, and League Two. Furthermore, the USL is working on implementing a promotion and relegation system and engaging in negotiations with the USL Players Association over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), with the current agreement expiring at year’s end.
Impact on Players
An insider reported that all contracts held by NCFC’s players will become invalid once the season concludes, thus enabling them to enter the free agent pool. This situation is disconcerting for players who had long-term contracts with the club, particularly for those who are injured, as they stand to lose their health insurance and may need to pursue workers’ compensation claims. Roughly ten players are expected to have their contracts unexpectedly terminated.
According to current CBA terms, players with multi-year agreements will receive two months of severance pay.
Commitment to Players
A representative from NCFC assured ESPN that the club intends to adhere to the CBA and is committed to providing additional support to its players. Steve Malik, the chairman of NCFC since 2015, also oversees the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL. He has been working since 2019 to establish a soccer-specific stadium in the Raleigh area, intended to benefit both teams. However, despite regulatory approvals and land acquisitions, securing the necessary public funding has proven elusive.
Attendance Struggles
Moreover, the men’s team has struggled with attendance, averaging just 2,550 spectators per game, placing them 21st out of 24 teams in the league. Their playoff match last weekend drew only 2,005 fans against Loudon United.
History of NCFC
Since its inception in 2006, NCFC has undergone several transformations, initially founded as the Carolina RailHawks, transitioning to the North American Soccer League in 2009, and returning to the USL in 2017. After a stint in USL League One starting in 2021, the team returned to the USL Championship in 2023. They are set to face Rhode Island FC in the conference semifinals this Saturday.
