The 2023 FC Series is coming to Chapel Hill! Chelsea and Wrexham will square off on Wednesday, July 19 at 7:30 pm. The match quickly sold out, so we expect over 60,000 fans, players, coaches, and staff to fill up Kenan Stadium. For those who could not purchase tickets, we’ve got you covered! Catch the game at one of our downtown bars or restaurants. Here are some local spots hosting watch parties and offering specials:
Beer Study
Beer Study will have will have Aviation Gin specials and a pizza happy hour with IP3 starting at 4 pm. Pizza will be on a first come, first served basis.
Carolina Coffee Shop
Carolina Coffee Shop will open for extended hours with a gameday menu.
Bring your tickets for 25% off your purchase! Offer is valid through 7/20-7/21.
Gizmo’s Chapel Hill taproom will have specials during the watch party!
Goodfellows will OPEN EARLY at 4 p.m. on Wednesday for the match! Following the action, karaoke will pop off at 10:30 p.m.!
The game will be streamed live in Trophy Room, the lobby-level restaurant, with food and drink specials to kick off the night. This event is FREE and open to the public. Click here to learn more.
Lapin Bleu
Might As Well
Might As Well Bar & Grill will host a watch party with drink specials.
Still Life
Still Life will be the official “home base” of Chelsea FC fans! The RDU Blues will host a watch party, featuring specials and a family-friendly section. You can register here.
The Crunkleton will host a pop-up shop featuring gear from both teams! The bar will open at 3 pm on game day. The pop-up is sponsored by soccer.com.
While you’re in town, be sure to check out some local sights. Here are a few recommendations:
-Take in the local arts scene! There are numerous public murals in downtown Chapel Hill. Or, if you need a break from the summer heat, stop by Ackland Art Museum to see the galleries. The Uproar Festival of Public Art will take place all over Orange County. You can see sixty high-impact works of art displayed in the downtown areas of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough.
-See the stars at Morehead Planetarium and enjoy a $2 discount on weekday tickets! Check out the show calendar here.
-Step back in time and take a peek at Room 23 at Graduate Chapel Hill: a room designed as an exact replica of Michael Jordan’s college dorm room. You can book a tour and receive some GOAT-inspired swag.
-Learn about the local community at the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau.
Transit and Parking Information
On July 19, starting at 2 p.m., the Town’s special event parking flat rate will apply in Town-owned and operated parking lots. No cash will be accepted at parking meters. No tailgating is allowed in Town parking lots.
No game parking is allowed in downtown neighborhoods. Town signage will notify drivers that only residential parking is allowed in these neighborhoods.
Fans can use Chapel Hill Transit’s Tar Heel Express to reach Kenan Memorial Stadium on game day.
UPDATE: The Tar Heel Express is SOLD OUT!
Shuttles start at 5:30 p.m. Buses depart when full or every 10 to 15 minutes. Tar Heel Express return service ends approximately 45 minutes after the game. The only downtown pick-up location is near Carolina Coffee Shop. Parking is not guaranteed in downtown lots. Paying for a Tar Heel Express ticket for this location does not pay for or guarantee a parking spot in downtown lots.
Check out the Park on the Hill website for more information on downtown lots. To see parking options on the UNC campus, click here. On-campus parking permits are available for purchase through noon for $40-$60. Campus spots can be purchased here.