Oct. 20, 2015

The Charlotte Sports Foundation (CSF) today announced it has secured the University of South Carolina to play North Carolina State University in the 2017 Belk College Kickoff Game in Charlotte. The Gamecocks, from the Southeastern Conference, will face off against the Wolfpack, from the Atlantic Coast Conference, in September, 2017 at Bank of America Stadium. The kick off time and ticket information will be announced at a later date.

“We are excited to announce that these two prominent universities will be facing off in Charlotte in 2017,” said Will Webb, Executive Director of the Charlotte Sports Foundation. “It is a great time to be a college football fan in Charlotte, and we look forward to welcoming Gamecock and Wolfpack fans to our city.”

“Belk is thrilled to host NC State and South Carolina in the 2017 Belk College Kickoff Game in Charlotte,” said Jon Pollack, Belk’s Executive Vice President of sales promotion, marketing and eCommerce. “What a tremendous way to start the 2017 college football season with two passionate fan bases and two talented teams in a border rivalry game.”

“The Charlotte market continues to be important for our University and athletics program,” said South Carolina Athletics Director Ray Tanner. “I am appreciative of the opportunity provided by the Charlotte Sports Foundation to continue our presence in the Belk College Kickoff Game, playing NC State in 2017. We look forward to a great game and a quality atmosphere for our student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni and fans.”

“Charlotte matters to the Wolfpack Family and we are excited to once again play a premiere opponent in the Queen City, in what should be a nationally televised game,” said Deborah A. Yow, Director of Athletics at NC State.

This brings the current total to five regular season college football games that CSF has scheduled for Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium. Previously announced, the University of Tennessee will face West Virginia University in 2018 and the University of North Carolina will face University of South Carolina in 2019 and 2023. North Carolina faced South Carolina in the 2015 Belk College Kickoff Game earlier this season.

“The Charlotte Sports Foundation continues its mission of attracting major sporting events that enhance the quality of life in Charlotte,” stated Johnny Harris, Board Chairman of the Charlotte Sports Foundation. “Games like this one give Charlotte national recognition and have a significant positive economic impact on the city.”

The Wolfpack and the Gamecocks have met on the gridiron 57 times with South Carolina holding a slight advantage with a 27-26-4 record against NC State. They last met in 2009 with the Gamecocks earning a hard-fought 7-3 victory.

For early access to tickets for this game and other events hosted by CSF contact Tickets@CharlotteSports.org.

The Charlotte Sports Foundation (CSF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created in 2013 to provide leadership for sports-based initiatives that enhance the economy and quality of life in the Charlotte region. CSF provides unique events and business opportunities around professional, collegiate and amateur sporting events, highlighted by the annual Belk Bowl, the Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship, as well as, regular season football games including the Universities of Tennessee and West Virginia (2018), and The Universities of North Carolina and South Carolina (2019 & 2023). These efforts are intended to create a positive economic impact in the region, as well, to enhance the quality of life.

The organization’s board of directors is comprised of regional business, industry and civic leaders who have a track record of bringing sports and economic development to the area.