Photo: Andy Weber/Axios and Alana McCallion/courtesy of Crown Legacy FC
The Charlotte Independence and Crown Legacy FC are coming off stellar seasons, and both open their respective seasons this weekend.
Catch up quick: The Independence advanced to the USL League One final last fall, becoming the first professional soccer team in Charlotte to make it that far since the Charlotte Eagles. The Jacks opener is also a celebration of their 10th season.
Crown Legacy played its inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season last year, finishing the regular season as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Context: Both the Independence and Crown Legacy are third division minor league teams, meaning they play in a league that's two levels below Major League Soccer, but they're in separate leagues.
If you go: The Independence host One Knoxville SC tonight at 7pm at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Tickets start at $12.
Crown Legacy host Carolina Core FC tomorrow at 5pm at the Sportsplex at Matthews. Tickets are $15. Kids age 5 and younger get in free. There's also a pre-match block party at the stadium from 3-5pm.
