The Charleston Battery are a professional soccer team that plays at Patriots Point Soccer Stadium in Mount Pleasant. Their season runs from March through October, and taking in a game is a great way to spend an evening in the Holy City.
If you didn’t know that Charleston has a professional soccer team, you’re not alone. While most locals have taken in at least one RiverDogs game at the Joe, far fewer local residents have spent the evening watching the Charleston Battery play at Patriots Point.
This is a shame, because going to a Charleston Battery game at Patriots Point is—at least in this fan’s opinion—one of the best ways to spend an evening in the Holy City.
The Charleston Battery’s game schedule runs from March through October. During this time, the team plays 17 home games in a typical season. For the 2023 season, all of the games are scheduled as evening fixtures, starting at either 5:00 pm or 7:30 pm. This means that you’ll be at the stadium as the sun goes down, with the silhouette of the Ravenel Bridge providing an iconic backdrop to the stadium’s west bleachers.
Going to a Charleston Battery Game is Not Your Typical Professional Sports Experience
Going to a Charleston Battery soccer game at Patriots Point is not the typical professional sports experience. The Patriots Point soccer stadium seating capacity is just 3,900, and parking is a breeze. There are several paid parking lots—some just a few steps from the gate—and you can also park for free along Patriots Point Road if you get there early enough (on most days about an hour before the game).
But, the logistics are just a small part of what makes going to a Charleston Battery game a unique experience.
Here are a few of the other reasons why you should definitely consider going to a Charleston Battery game (or several) this season:
Food Trucks Instead of Traditional Stadium Food
At most stadiums, you know what to expect when it comes to food—overpriced burgers and hotdogs, popcorn and peanuts, and that’s about it.
But, the Charleston Battery stadium hosts several food trucks before and during the game. If you get there early, you can eat at one of the picnic tables with a shade umbrella, or you can stand along the rail and watch the teams warm up before heading to your seat. Of course, you can eat at your seat as well—you’ll just want to make sure you get in line with enough time to pick up your order before game time.
As is typically the case with Charleston’s food trucks, the options that are available at the stadium are almost always very good. There is typically a good variety as well—pizza, tacos, gyros, and ice cream are all commonly available.
You Can Get a Front-Row Seat in the General Admission Bleachers
Tickets to Charleston Battery games start at $14 for the 2023 season; and, while you can pay more, you really don’t have to. For $14, you get a ticket in the general admission section in the stadium’s west stands. This means that you don’t have an assigned seat, and this means that you can sit in the front row if you wish.
This is true until about 10 minutes before game time most nights. Plus, since you’ll be facing east, you won’t have the sun in your face as it sets behind the stadium. I’ve been to several Charleston Battery games with relatively large groups, and we’ve been able to get front-row seats every time.
The general admission bleachers are located roughly between the 18-yard line and midfield. If you’re not a soccer fan, this means that they are good seats. But, they are bleachers, so you may want to bring a blanket to sit on if the forecast is calling for a chilly evening.
The Team Appreciates Its Fans and Prioritizes the Fan Experience
The Charleston Battery are still trying to build their fan base, and it shows—in a good way. Along with food trucks, there are often face painting booths and other children’s activities at the stadium before the game. The team frequently sticks around to sign autographs after games as well, and there are a variety of options for shoutouts and for kids to get on the field.
The Charleston Battery 2023 Home Schedule
The Charleston Battery’s 2023 preseason schedule opened on February 11. The team’s home games at Patriots Point Soccer Stadium for the 2023 season are:
- February 18 at 7:00 pm vs. University of South Carolina (preseason)
- February 22 at 7:00 pm vs. College of Charleston (preseason and free admission)
- March 11 at 7:30 pm vs. Phoenix Rising FC
- March 25 at 7:30 pm vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies
- April 8 at 7:30 pm vs. Hartford Athletic
- April 22 at 7:30 pm vs. Louisville City FC
- April 29 at 7:30 pm vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
- May 13 at 7:30 pm vs. San Antonio FC
- May 20 at 5:00 pm vs. Monterey Bay FC
- June 2 at 7:30 pm vs. Indy Eleven
- June 7 at 7:30 pm vs. Detroit City FC
- June 30 at 7:30 pm vs. Loudoun United FC
- July 22 at 7:30 pm vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- August 4 at 7:30 pm vs. Oakland Roots FC
- August 26 at 7:30 pm vs. Memphis 901 FC
- September 9 at 7:30 pm vs. San Diego Loyal
- September 23 at 7:30 pm vs. FC Tulsa
- October 7 at 5:00 pm vs. The Miami FC
- October 14 at 5:00 pm vs. Birmingham Legion FC
Getting to Patriots Point Soccer Stadium and Parking for a Charleston Battery Game
If you are a long-time Charleston resident, you are probably familiar with Patriots Point. The Charleston Battery’s stadium is located on Patriot Point Boulevard, just a short walk from the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum and the U.S.S. Yorktown.
If you are not a long-time Charleston resident, Patriots Point is located in Mount Pleasant on the Charleston harbor. As you come across the Ravenel Bridge from downtown Charleston, you will see the U.S.S. Yorktown on your right, and Patriots Point Soccer Stadium is just behind it.
To get to the Charleston Battery stadium, you can either turn onto Patriots Point Boulevard from Coleman Boulevard, or you can take Wingo Way under the Ravenel Bridge (Wingo Way turns into Harry M. Hallman Jr. Boulevard at the roundabout just after the bridge). If you are coming across the Ravenel Bridge, Coleman Boulevard will be your first right (at the gas station). If you are coming from Mount Pleasant, Sullivan’s Island, or Isle of Palms, it will be the last left before you get onto the bridge.
Once you’re on Patriots Point Boulevard, getting to the stadium is fairly straightforward. Just keep driving until you see the stadium on your left. If you’ve paid for parking near the stadium, look for the signs for your chosen lot as the stadium comes into view. If you are parking at Patriots Point (which is the cheapest option aside from finding a free spot along the road), you will turn right into the parking lot—and you will need to be prepared to pay or show your e-ticket at the gate.
Seating Options and Ticket Prices for Charleston Battery Games
As discussed above, you can get a general admission ticket for $14 for the 2023 season, and you can get a front-row seat as long as you’re at the stadium about 10 minutes before game time most nights. This is a great option for just about everyone—though, again, you’ll be sitting on bleachers, which is the only potential downside. Ticket prices for Charleston Battery games max out at $40, and these are for assigned (and cushioned) seats in the east or west stands.
If you buy Charleston Battery tickets online and get on the team’s email list, don’t unsubscribe. The team sends out a reasonable number of emails, and many of them include ticket deals and other offers. I am a serial unsubscriber, and this is one of the few email lists that I am happily still on.
The Charleston Battery also offer season memberships and smaller multi-game ticket plans that reduce the cost of attendance for individual games. The team also offers group packages (including birthday parties) and has private spaces for corporate outings.
How Do You Join a Charleston Battery Supporters’ Group?
If you are interested in joining a Charleston Battery supporters' group, you have a few option. As the Charleston Battery’s website explains, “[i]n the tradition of professional clubs around the world, the Battery have multiple independent groups of faithful supporters who cheer on the Black and Yellow every matchday.” These supporters’ groups occupy the north stands during games, and members pay discounted ticket prices. You can learn more about each of the team’s three supporters’ groups here:
FAQs: Going to a Charleston Battery Game at Patriots Point
When Do the Charleston Battery Play Soccer?
The Charleston Battery play their regular season from March through October, and they have a few preseason games in February. Their home games are in the evening on both weekdays and weekends, and typically start at either 5:00 pm or 7:30 pm.
Are the Charleston Battery in the MLS?
No, the Charleston Battery are not in the MLS. The Battery play in the USL Championship, which is generally considered the second tier of professional soccer in the United States below Major League Soccer (MLS). The Charleston Battery occasionally play exhibition games against MLS teams, and the team’s roster has included players who have gone on to play in the MLS and other professional leagues around the world.
How Early Should I Get to a Charleston Battery Game?
Getting to the stadium between an hour and 45 minutes before kickoff is ideal for most games. This will give you enough time to park, walk to the stadium, get your food from your chosen food truck, and get to your seat before kickoff. But, if you just want to get in your seat before game time, you can plan to park 15 to 20 minutes before kickoff most nights.
Are Charleston Battery Games Kid-Friendly?
Charleston Battery games are very kid-friendly, and you’ll see lots of kids at every home game at Patriots Point Soccer Stadium. Even if your kids aren’t into soccer, going to a game is a fun experience and a great way to spend an evening together as a family or with other families from your neighborhood or your kids’ school.
Where Should I Sit for a Charleston Battery Game?
Since the Charleston Battery stadium is relatively small, all of the seats are good. If you’re comfortable sitting on a bleacher for the game, getting a general admission ticket in the west stands is the way to go. You can get a front row seat as long as you get to the game a little bit early, and the sun will be setting behind you—so you won’t have the glare in your face the whole game.
Is Traffic Bad After a Charleston Battery Game?
Having attended several Charleston Battery games, traffic after the game has never been an issue. The police are on site after the game to help with managing traffic around the stadium, and getting onto Coleman Boulevard typically doesn’t take much longer (if any) than doing so any other time of day.
What Should I Know Before I Go to a Charleston Battery Game?
The most important thing to know about going to a Charleston Battery game is that you simply should just go. Buy your tickets online, drive over to Patriots Point, and enjoy the evening. Getting in and out of the stadium is easy, the modest crowd is well-managed and generally well-behaved, the soccer is good, and you are sure to have a fun and memorable experience.
What is the Patriot Point Soccer Stadium Seating Capacity?
The standard seating capacity at Patriot Point soccer stadium is 3,900. While the stadium's seating capacity can be increased to 5,000 for special events, most Battery games currently don't sell out at the standard capacity. Even so, we recommend buying your tickets online instead of waiting to buy them at the gate, just in case you decide to go on a busy night.
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