Carolina Core FC innovates through its people development and fan experience
By Brian Maurer
In the 1990s, High Point, like many cities in the US, began losing its manufacturing industries overseas, leading to economic hardship in the North Carolinian town. The City Council of High Point approved a Catalyst Project in March 2016 to help revitalize the downtown area. This included a new baseball stadium. This project adapted over time and the baseball stadium turned into a multi-purpose facility. The foundation for a new soccer team was laid.
Before Megan Oglesby decided to become the Principal Investor for Carolina Core FC she was invited to a presentation where a study was done in 2021 analyzing whether a town like High Point could support a professional soccer team. The study asked youth soccer families in the area how far they would be willing to travel for a professional soccer game, how much they would be willing to spend on tickets and concessions, and other similar questions. The results of the study impressed Oglesby. "I got invited to that meeting and I was like 'This is really cool somebody’s working on bringing a soccer team to the stadium [Truist Point],'" said Oglesby.
She said she was invited back to a second meeting where the discussion was focused on local ownership being a key part of starting a High Point pro soccer team, as well as the investment amount, she then realized the idea was for her to help bring a team to High Point. Oglesby officially became a part of the project in January of 2022 and has been a leader for the club ever since.
There was a stadium and an ownership group, it then came down to finding the right league. This ended up being MLS NEXT Pro as they were set to launch a year ahead of CCFC and were open to accepting independent clubs.
One of the key tenets of MLS NEXT Pro is innovation. This can be seen by the way the league tests out different gameplay rules and playoff formats. Carolina Core also views itself as being an innovative club. Oglesby says some of the ways the club focuses on innovating is in their people development (not just players but the whole organization), and their fan environment.
Carolina Core's Party on the Pitch is one of the unique fan experience innovations that helped set their club apart in 2024. The games are played in one part of Truist Point and the other side of the grass is open where fans can walk down and be on the field during games. CCFC also changes their pregame and halftime entertainment regularly so that fans have a new experience to look forward to each game week.
By blending innovative fan experiences with their affordable ticket prices and ease of access to the stadium they provide a comfortable environment for families, which helps the club hit one of its main goals: creating lifelong fans.
One of Carolina Core's other goals has been to bring in out-of-town fans and sponsorship dollars to help with the High Point economic rejuvenation. "More than half [ticket sales and sponsors] are coming from outside of High Point," said Oglesby. "Their coming from the whole triad region, but also as far as Charlotte and Raleigh."
Core FC also hosted Cruz Azul's U23 team in the fall of last year which brought in more fans to the new soccer experience in High Point. CCFC went on to win that friendly 1-0.
The club also provides free community clinics for kids where Carolina Core coaching staff and players provide coaching inside the stadium, allowing young fans to have an elite professional soccer experience.
The 2025 season and beyond
Carolina Core FC's 2025 season has gotten off to a good start as they picked up two points in a PK shootout on the road in their season opener. They then followed that performance up with a 4-2 win in Round 1 of the US Open Cup. Last night they fell short against NYCFC II, losing 2-1 on the road. They will have an opportunity for revenge at their season home opener on April 5 vs New York City FC II.
Core FC's highly anticipated home matchup versus their Carolina rivals Crown Legacy FC is on April 26. This rivalry game is lined up during the High Point Market in the Spring giving CCFC an opportunity to be an evening highlight during one of High Point's busiest times of the year.
When Oglesby was asked what some of the long-term goals for the club were she said having a full pathway from the Academy youth levels to the First Team. This year Carolina Core added a U15 team, which will be their third age group, taking another major step towards that goal. CCFC Academy players getting First Team minutes will be an exciting moment for the club and fans to look forward to in the years ahead.
Being an independent club in the MLS development league can make it difficult to stand out, but Carolina Core accomplishes this with bigger crowds and an exciting environment for fans of all ages, making themselves a draw for the whole Carolina region not just in High Point proper. The club's willingness to innovate has helped boost this fan environment as it continues to grow in 2025.
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