Everything you need to know about Real Madrid vs. Chelsea in Charlotte
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This will be Chelsea's third time playing at Bank of America Stadium. They played Paris Saint-Germain in 2015 and Charlotte FC in 2022. Photo: Andy Weber/Axios
Charlotte hosts soccer titans Real Madrid and Chelsea on Tuesday, Aug. 6 at Bank of America Stadium at 7pm.
Why it matters: Fans from all over the world are expected to travel to Charlotte for the Soccer Champions Tour.
Context: Charlotte is no stranger to pre-season friendlies, hosting several European clubs over the last decade, including Chelsea. But this is the first time Real Madrid will play here.
If you go: Tickets start at $75. Expect heavy traffic in Uptown and pricey parking. Public transit options include CityLYNX Gold Line Streetcar and Lynx Blue Line, which both have stops within walking distance of the stadium.
- The Gold Line is currently free. It travels east and west from Elizabeth just over the Hawthorne Lane bridge to west Charlotte near Johnson C. Smith University. Gateway Station and the Mint Street stops are roughly half a mile from Bank of America Stadium.
- The Blue Line runs north and south from UNC Charlotte to I-485. A one-way ticket costs $2.20 for adults and $1.10 for kids. Weekly unlimited rides cost $30.80. Brooklyn Village Station is about half a mile from the stadium. Charlotte Transportation Center and Arena Station are just under a mile from the stadium.
Tailgate: Join Real Madrid supporters from 12-5:30pm at Clutch Kitchen & Pour House (601 S. Cedar St.). Details.
- Join Chelsea fans at Rí Rá (208 N. Tryon St.) Doors open at 11am. Details.
Go deeper: 30 Charlotte soccer bars
The big picture: It's been a massive summer of soccer in the Carolinas, from Copa America in Charlotte to Manchester City vs. Celtic in Chapel Hill and Liverpool vs. Manchester United in Columbia. The latter drew 77,559 fans.