On July 23, England’s Manchester City and Scotland’s Celtic football clubs will play a match at Kenan Stadium on UNC’s campus. The game is a part of the 2024 FC Series, a collection of friendly matches, or those that serve to warm up and prepare players for the professional season.
Last year, Chapel Hill hosted a match between Chelsea Football Club and Wrexham Association Football Club. The sold-out game brought a crowd of over 50,500 and around $15 million in revenue for Chapel Hill and nearby communities.
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This year’s match will be only the third time Manchester City and Celtic have played one another, and tickets range between $65 and $400. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to UNC Children’s Hospital.
Additionally, because the town had more preparation time for this year’s event, local businesses have had a larger window to prepare for the influx of visitors and customers, Stephanie Cobert, director of marketing and engagement for Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership, said.
“We were able to plan a little bit better and have more activities, get our downtown businesses invested in having specials and events, and upping their staffing and staying open a little bit later for people,” she said.
The Town of Carrboro will sponsor a trolley service between downtown Carrboro and Chapel Hill to transport visitors between businesses, restaurants and bars.
The summer months are slower for the town — due, in part, to the decreased student population — so hosting soccer matches is nothing but a benefit, Maria Jacavino, director of sales for Chapel Hill’s Graduate Hotel, said.
Last year’s match brought visitors from all 50 states and some from overseas, leaving local hotels sold out.