carolina ascent fc

What carolina ascent fc does

Carolina Ascent FC is a privately held professional women's soccer franchise headquartered at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in 2023 and rebranded from its working name 'Super League Carolina' in March 2024, the club began play in August 2024 as one of eight inaugural franchises in the Gainbridge Super League (formerly USL Super League), a USL Division One professional women's soccer league covering the Carolinas. The club's product portfolio centers on the senior professional team, supplemented by a USL W League pre-professional affiliate and a USL Academy youth team, with Charlotte Independence Soccer Club operating the developmental pipeline. On-field performance has been strong in only its second season, including a club-record 12-game unbeaten streak and a berth in the 2026 Gainbridge Super League Final.

The club generates revenue across five streams: ticket sales (single-game from $9, season tickets from $12/game, mini-plans, group experiences) at a 10,500-seat stadium; official merchandise sold through a Shopify storefront (adult jerseys at $99); corporate sponsorships from 20+ named partners led by Nucor (presenting sponsor), Food Lion, Blue Cross NC, DoubleTree by Hilton, and Capelli Sport; broadcasting rights distributed via local partner WCCB Charlotte/Bahakel Sports (14 Fall 2026 games) and national streaming on Peacock; and community partnership activations. The technology stack is entirely commercial off-the-shelf, including SportsEngine for website/CRM, Shopify for e-commerce, a proprietary mobile iOS app, and standard video analysis tooling for the coaching staff — no proprietary platform is disclosed.

Carolina Ascent FC's go-to-market is hybrid: an event-driven, community-first approach anchored in regional identity and a sales-led layer for corporate sponsorship and group ticketing. Marketing operates across six social platforms, email, local TV, national streaming, in-stadium themed nights, and pre-launch community listening sessions. The club is led by Managing Partner Jim McPhilliamy and President of Business Operations Margaret Gramann under the ownership entity Empower Sports and Entertainment LLC. Notably, the franchise has no disclosed funding rounds, no external private equity or venture capital identified, and no revenue disclosure — making financial visibility limited despite strong competitive and commercial momentum signals.

Name

carolina ascent fc

Legal name

Carolina Ascent Football Club

Website

https://carolinaascentfc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Carolina Ascent FC operates a professional women's soccer team in the Gainbridge Super League (USL Division One), based in Charlotte, NC. The club plays at American Legion Memorial Stadium and generates revenue from tickets, merchandise, corporate sponsorships, and broadcast rights.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Women's Soccer

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (71121), Other Spectator Sports (711219), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Association Football (Soccer) Leagues (MPAKAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports Events & Match Tickets (THAJAFAE), Athlete & Team Sponsorship Deals (Official Partners, Jersey/Kit Sponsors) (MPAKALAA)

Keywords

• Professional women's soccer
• Match ticket sales
• Sports merchandise
• Corporate sponsorships
• Broadcast media rights

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from single-game tickets, season tickets, mini-plans, and group tickets sold for home matches at American Legion Memorial Stadium (capacity 10,500). Season tickets start at $12 per game in the Supporters Section; home opener tickets start at $9.
2. Merchandise Sales: Official club merchandise (kits, jerseys, headwear, novelties) sold through the club's Shopify storefront at carolinaascent.myshopify.com.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship revenue from 20+ named corporate sponsors including Nucor (presenting sponsor), Food Lion, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, DoubleTree Suites by Hilton, Capelli Sport, Carolina Office Solutions, HopFly Brewing Co., Performance Rehab Associates, and others. Includes jersey/front-of-kit sponsorship, stadium signage, and broadcast integrations.
4. Broadcasting Rights: Local television broadcasting rights sold to WCCB Charlotte (Bahakel Sports) for 14 Fall 2026 season games. National streaming via Peacock for select matches. Broadcast schedule published on the club website.
5. Community Partnership Activations: Revenue-adjacent community partnerships such as FidoTabby Alert (pet alert network) that drive fan engagement and brand visibility through cross-promotional activations including Pup of the Match contests and themed matchnight events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

Carolina Ascent FC operates a professional women's soccer franchise competing in the Gainbridge Super League (USL Division One), selling match tickets (single-game, season, mini-plans, group experiences) and official team merchandise (jerseys, headwear, novelties) at home matches played at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, NC. The club generates parallel revenue through sponsorship packages with corporate partners and broadcast rights sold to WCCB Charlotte (local TV) and Peacock (national streaming), while fielding USL W League and USL Academy affiliate teams as a player development pipeline.

Product overview

Carolina Ascent FC operates as a professional women's soccer organization with a multi-tier structure: the core product is the professional team competing in the Gainbridge Super League, supplemented by the USL W League pre-professional affiliate team for player development, and a USL Academy youth team for emerging talent. The club generates revenue through match ticket sales (single game, season tickets, mini plans, group experiences), official merchandise sold via Shopify store, broadcast rights, and sponsorship packages. The organization plays all home games at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, NC, and leverages digital platforms including a mobile app and social media channels for fan engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Match Tickets Single-game tickets, season tickets (Supporters Section from $12 per game), mini-plans, group tickets, and promotional/themed match-night packages for attending Carolina Ascent FC home matches at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, NC. Home opener tickets start at $9.
• Official Team Merchandise Official Carolina Ascent FC branded merchandise including playing and replica jerseys (Rising Kit, Ridge Kit, youth $75 / adult $99), headwear, novelties, training apparel, and general club merchandise sold through the club's dedicated Shopify storefront.
• Corporate Sponsorship Packages Multi-tier corporate sponsorship packages sold to enterprise and regional businesses including presenting sponsorship (Nucor), jersey/front-of-kit placement, stadium signage, broadcast integrations, hospitality, and branded digital content. Named partners include Food Lion, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, DoubleTree Suites by Hilton, Capelli Sport, Performance Rehab Associates, Angry Orchard, Apollo Sports and Entertainment Law Group, and others.

Quantifiable outcome

• Club-record 12-game unbeaten streak and 8 clean sheets during 2025/26 season
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WCCB Charlotte / Bahakel SportscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 August 2026WCCB-TV, owned and operated by Bahakel Communications, serves as Carolina Ascent FC's exclusive Charlotte television partner. The partnership broadcasts all 14 Fall 2026 season games on local television, making the team accessible to Charlotte-area viewers. WCCB is the only locally-owned television station in the Charlotte region. Bahakel Communications also operates stations in Columbia SC (WOLO), Myrtle Beach SC (WFXB), and Montgomery AL (WAKA).
• FidoTabby AlertminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 February 2025Strategic partnership with FidoTabby Alert, a free nationwide pet alert network, as an 'Empowerment Partner.' The partnership expands the club's community impact to include animal welfare. Initiatives include Pup of the Match contest, FidoTabby Alert fan code discounts, and 'Pups at the Pitch Night' events. FidoTabby Alert has helped reunite over 45,000 pets nationwide.
• Nucor CorporationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNucor Corporation is the presenting sponsor of Carolina Ascent FC. Nucor branding is featured prominently on the club's website and marketing materials as the top-tier sponsor.
• Food LioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFood Lion is an official sponsor of Carolina Ascent FC with in-stadium presence and digital branding integration.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North CarolinacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBlue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) is an official health insurance sponsor with in-stadium and digital branding presence.
• DoubleTree Suites by Hilton (Hilton)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerDoubleTree Suites by Hilton at Charlotte SouthPark serves as the official hotel partner of Carolina Ascent FC with in-stadium branding and exclusive offers for ticket buyers.
• Capelli SportcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCapelli Sport is the official kit/apparel partner of Carolina Ascent FC, providing playing kits (Rising Kit, Ridge Kit), training gear, and official merchandise. Capelli Sport also facilitated the ceremonial jersey swap with the U.S. Women's National Field Hockey Team.
• Performance Rehab AssociatesminorOthersPerformance Rehab Associates is listed as a health and wellness provider sponsor, part of the club's broader Wellness Providers partnership program.
• Angry OrchardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAngry Orchard is a sponsor of Carolina Ascent FC, featured in the 'Presented By' sponsor section on the club website.
• Apollo Sports and Entertainment Law GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerApollo Sports and Entertainment Law Group is a sponsor of Carolina Ascent FC, listed in the 'Presented By' section.
• USL (United Soccer League)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarolina Ascent FC is one of eight inaugural franchises of the Gainbridge Super League (formerly USL Super League), a Division One professional women's soccer league. The club also participates in USL W League (pre-professional affiliate) and USL Academy programs, all under the USL umbrella.
• Charlotte Independence Soccer ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharlotte Independence Soccer Club is the affiliate partner managing technical and operational aspects of Carolina Ascent's USL W League and USL Academy programs, providing a direct pathway from youth soccer to professional play.
• U.S. Women's National Field Hockey TeamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCeremonial jersey swap event held before a Carolina Ascent home match, bringing together four U.S. Women's National Field Hockey players with four Carolina Ascent players. Sponsored by Capelli Sport and celebrating women's sports on a national stage ahead of the 2026 FIH World Cup.
• Peacock (NBCUniversal)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPeacock serves as the national streaming partner for Gainbridge Super League matches, making Carolina Ascent games accessible to viewers nationwide and internationally through the NBCUniversal streaming platform.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fort Lauderdale United FC: Fort Lauderdale United FC is a co-inaugural Gainbridge Super League franchise. Operates with the same league-driven revenue model and is useful for benchmarking Florida-based women's soccer operations against Carolina Ascent's Carolinas footprint.
• Tampa Bay Sun FC: Tampa Bay Sun FC is the eighth inaugural Gainbridge Super League franchise. Peer for women's professional soccer operations in a similar regional/sunbelt market.
• DC Power Football Club: DC Power FC is an inaugural Gainbridge Super League franchise operating under the same league framework. Direct comparable for stadium economics, sponsor mix, and broadcast reach in a comparable mid-size media market.
• Lexington SC: Lexington SC is a co-inaugural franchise in the Gainbridge Super League and defeated Carolina Ascent in the 2026 Super League Final. They compete in the same Division One women's soccer league with identical revenue model (tickets, merch, sponsorships) and are the most direct peer for competitive benchmarking.
• Sporting JAX: Sporting JAX is a co-inaugural Gainbridge Super League franchise and serves as a peer for women's soccer commercial operations in a different mid-sized US market.
• Dallas Trinity FC: Dallas Trinity FC is another inaugural Gainbridge Super League franchise. Same league structure, comparable launch trajectory, and shared USL governance make this a directly comparable peer for sponsorship pricing and attendance benchmarks.
• Brooklyn FC: Brooklyn FC is one of the eight inaugural Gainbridge Super League franchises and a direct league peer. Both clubs share the same operational structure (USL ownership, identical league economics, same national broadcast deal) and compete for sponsor and fan attention in different regional markets.

Broad incumbents

• Racing Louisville FC: Racing Louisville is an NWSL franchise that provides a benchmark for women's professional soccer economics at a higher league tier. Useful for understanding the gap between Gainbridge Super League and NWSL revenue, attendance, and sponsorship scales.
• Angel City FC: Angel City FC is a high-profile NWSL franchise with strong sponsorship and merchandise economics. While a tier above Carolina Ascent, it provides a benchmark for the ceiling of women's professional soccer commercial performance and brand-building potential.

Regional players

• Charlotte Independence (USL League One): Charlotte Independence is a USL League One men's soccer club based in the same Charlotte market and serves as the affiliate partner operating Carolina Ascent's W League and Academy programs. Closest geographic peer for soccer-specific operational benchmarks in the Charlotte metro.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/carolinaascent
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CarolinaAscentFC
• Facebookfacebook.com/superleaguecarolina
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carolinaascent/posts/?feedView=all
• Instagraminstagram.com/carolinaascentfc/?hl=en
• TikToktiktok.com/@carolinaascent

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about carolina ascent fc