10 reasons the Rugby Athletic Center is my new favorite place to day drink

Here are 10 reasons why you need to check out the Rugby Athletic Center:

(1) It’s convenient

Located between the New Bern and Scaleybark stations, the Rugby Athletic Center is that strange looking blue building you see when driving down Tryon. They have plenty of parking, but if you’re trying to get weird my Uber was only $5 from Sedgefield.

(2) It’s close to breweries

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery and Sugar Creek Brewing Company are right down the street. Fellow Agenda writer, Danny Gassaway and I enjoyed a beer at each before walking to the tournament.

The walk was a little interesting (it is Tryon after all) but totally doable if you’re in a group and it’s not 3am.

(3) It’s cheap

This particular tournament cost $10 for the day or $15 for the weekend. Yeah, you have to pay, but unlike most sporting events they don’t overcharge for food and booze once you’re inside. That brings me to my next point.

(4) There’s beer 

This is pretty important for a day drinking spot. Danny and I stuck with the $3 PBR man cans. It was cool to see that they had a few OMB beers on draft, but at that point I didn’t care if I what I was drinking was craft, canned or Colt 45.

By the way, they sell wine too. But, seriously, who day drinks with wine?

(5) There’s food

This is one of my least favorite things about a few of the popular Charlotte day drinking spots. They have all the beer you could want but absolutely nothing to eat once the munchies set-in. The Rugby Athletic Center had a pretty impressive menu for just being a little snack bar. They offered brats, nachos and even a turkey tzatziki flatbread that looked downright delicious.

6. It’s one-of-a-kind

Fun fact: The Rugby Athletic Center was originally a driving range. And other than the fields, they have kept the facility pretty much the same.

There are three spectator sections, one on the field and two balconies (the highest balcony is the coolest—literally). The balconies are all split into what were once the golfer’s swinging areas. (Is there a real name for this? Golfer stalls?) Now these dividers act as the perfect place to put your beer.

7. There’s no bad seat

When you’re at the RAC you don’t need binoculars to watch the game. In fact, you can go down to the first level and basically stand on the field. You’re so close that if you yell something out to a player they would actually hear you. This is pretty rare for a sports venue, even at a high school. So, of course, Danny and I kept ourselves busy by yelling things like “Nice tackle!” “Great try!” and “Can I get your number?”

Ok, I was yelling the last one. But seriously, you should see some of these guys.

8. It’s super casual

One of my biggest issues with day drinking in the summer is choosing my attire. I want to look cute but I know I live in Charlotte and will probably end up sweating like a man. At the RAC everyone was partying in t-shirts and athletic shorts. I felt over-dressed just for wearing a bra with actual underwire.

We knew for sure that we were in our element when not one person made fun of Danny for the ridiculous hat he was wearing.

9. It’s more than just rugby

For me, I will always prefer the rugby matches. Why? Well, just look at those calf muscles.

But the Rugby Athletic Center hosts all kinds of events. There’s Gaelic Football tournaments, lacrosse games and even an MMA cage fighting event called “Fight Lab.” Check out the RAC’s calendar for a list of all their events.

10. It’s different

Sure, you could go to the same bar you always go to and sit on the same patio you always sit on and talk about the same things you always talk about. OR you could make new drunken memories while watching awesome athletes wreck each other.

All I’m saying is mix it up once in a while. You won’t be disappointed.