Chapel Hill is already known for its fondness of light blue and green — but the community is expected to be filled with the colors as fans and visitors come for the Manchester City and Celtic F.C. friendly on Tuesday.
The FC Series matchup, the second of which to be held in Kenan Stadium at UNC, is once again set to be a major event within the town and thousands of people will be coming to the Triangle area for the game. With last year’s game between Chelsea and Wrexham representing a $15 million economic boost to the cities of the Triangle, much planning is happening around Tuesday’s latest friendly. Tickets for the event are still available through the FC Series and UNC Athletics’ ticketing website, as well as some tickets on secondary market sites.
What are the latest travel and parking recommendations people should keep in mind before the game kicks off? Here are details on some of the most important things to know ahead of Manchester City vs. Celtic F.C. in Chapel Hill.
WHAT PARKING IS AVAILABLE?
As is the case with many events at Kenan Stadium, parking is going to be at a premium around UNC campus.
Public passes for all of the university’s decks are on sale for visitors and can be purchased through the Carolina Athletics website. But UNC’s parking spots will not be sold ahead of the match on Wednesday and purchased passes will not be valid on campus until 5:30 p.m. A list of UNC parking decks and lots can be found here, with both prepaid parking and reserved lots. Most spots are available for $45 per vehicle.
Parking is going to be available in downtown Chapel Hill as well, with all the town’s biggest parking decks and lots having spaces at a special event rate. A higher price for parking per hour starts at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, with some lots requiring a flat $30 fee closer to game time. Payments must be done through the ParkMobile app the Town of Chapel Hill uses for its parking fees. The town’s available parking lots and decks can be found here.
Additionally, the Town of Carrboro’s public lots will be available — all of which are free, but have a two-hour time limit. A map of Carrboro’s municipal parking options can be found here.
There are also park and ride options further away from Kenan Stadium, which you can learn more about below.
WHAT ARE THE LOCAL TRANSIT OPTIONS?
Chapel Hill Transit will be running its Tar Heel Express service during the hours leading up to the FC Series friendly Tuesday evening. The bus service, which is a direct route from park-and-ride lots to UNC’s campus, is a way for fans to be taken to Kenan Stadium without having to navigate parking downtown or as much vehicle traffic leaving the game. Starting at the Friday Center, Southern Village and Downtown at Franklin Street, the Tar Heel Express runs every 10-15 minutes or once the bus is full and drops off along South Road at Woolen Gym.
Those using the Tar Heel Express for the game are required to purchase their $5 ride on the bus ahead of time and riders will be required to show their tickets before using a Tar Heel Express bus on Tuesday. The service starts two hours before kick-off (5 p.m.) and ends 45 minutes after the game.
Additionally, a free trolley service will be running in downtown Chapel Hill and Carrboro during the afternoons and evenings courtesy of the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors’ Bureau. While it will not take fans to Kenan Stadium, it will offer a free and consistent way to move around the downtown and visit businesses without a vehicle.
More Chapel Hill Transit routes and services can be found here.
A free trolley through the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau will run from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday-Wednesday to help downtown patrons get to and from local businesses. (Photo via the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau.)
WHAT ARE SOME PRE-GAME EVENTS HAPPENING IN TOWN?
Leading up to the game, as well as during and after, there are several special things to do around the Chapel Hill and Carrboro area. In the prior months, the town has hosted Manchester City’s mascot Moonbeam and its Premier League trophy to drum up excitement and even more events are planned now.
Here is a list of some local business and their programming around the game, listed in alphabetical order. Inclusions are courtesy of the visitors bureau, the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership, and FC Series organizers.
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Celtic F.C. Bars
Speakeasy Carrboro: Offering drink special and hosting a pro-Celtic watch party — as well as live music on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights
Steel String Brewery Carrboro: Offering specialty drinks and discounts in a pro-Celtic environment while hosting a watch party
Manchester City Bars
Atlas: Opens at 5pm. Stop by to hear a classic Manchester City playlist with pints and cocktails.
Bru’s Public House: Offering 10 percent off a food bill for customers wearing Manchester City jerseys and hosting a watch party with food specials all day Tuesday
He’s Not Here: Hosting a private Manchester City supporters party on Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m., which will include themed Blue Cups and a meet-and-greet opportunity with former Man City stars Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joleon Lescott
Watch Party Locations
401 Main: Offering both Celtic and Manchester City-themed food specials and a $5 mojito special
Dead Mule Club: Hosting a watch party for the game, plus a featured menu Monday through Wednesday of food items and native beers from Scotland and England
Italian Pizzeria III: Offering food and drink specials Monday through Wednesday
Lapin Bleu: Offering a drink special of icy margaritas
Might As Well Bar & Grill: Offering team-themed shooters and cocktails, plus holding karaoke after the game
The Pitch: Offering team-themed drinks, plus holding karaoke and Mario Kart races after the game
Additional Specials or Events at Businesses
200 West Franklin Street: A pop-up shop by Soccer.com of Manchester City FC gear. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Monday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. The Premier League Trophy will be on display Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday at the shop, and mascots are set to make an appearance on Sunday afternoon.
1922/Carolina Coffee Shop: Offering themed drinks for both Manchester City and Celtic
AC Hotel in Downtown Chapel Hill: Offering themed drink special on Monday and Tuesday in the hotel lobby bar
Amante Gourmet Pizza: Offering 10 percent off food orders for customers wearing soccer jerseys or Manchester City and Celtic F.C. colors
Beer Study: Holding a raffle to win a Manchester City Jersey on Monday and Tuesday, with the winner announced on Wednesday
Carolina Brewery: Running its Sky Blue Bus for fans to ride to Kenan Stadium for free before the game
d b sutton & company: Holding a ticketed “Pep talk” on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m., which is tasting event featuring Spanish wine from regions beloved by Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola. To sign up, contact the shop at 919-968-4247.
Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby’s International Realty: Hosting a soccer station, where you can take penalty kicks outside the office to win prizes
Innovate Carolina Junction: Holding a startup pitch competition on Monday and Tuesday from July 22 and July 23, where visitors will judge 90-second business pitches from a group of local entrepreneurs. Plus, pick up free gear and cold drinks.
Lanza’s Café: Offering specialty food and drinks, with a 10 percent discount if customers are wearing a soccer jersey. Will be open later than normal, with closing hours at 10 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday.
TarHeel Station: Offering 10 percent off snacks, sodas, energy drinks, and water to customers from Monday through Wednesday
Tea Hill: Offering a free Boba topping to a drink for every person dressed up in soccer gear
Top of Hill Restaurant & Brewery: Open on Tuesday and offering team-themed drinks
WomanCraft Gifts: Offering a 10 percent discount on all purchases from Monday through Wednesday
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For fans wanting to see the clubs practice ahead of the friendly, the teams are holding an open training session over in Cary on Monday. Celtic player will warm up and go through drills at the WakeMed Soccer Park at 5:30 p.m., with Manchester City players taking the pitch shortly after. The open practice is a ticketed event.
WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TEAMS?
As is the case with many major football clubs across the pond, both Manchester City and Celtic F.C. saw their roots begin in the 1800s, with each specifically forming in the 1880s.
Celtic F.C. is a member of the William Hill Premiership, which is the highest-rated league in Scotland, and are perennial contenders for the top spot. The club is based out of Glasgow and is coming off winning the league title for a third consecutive season and the 12th time in 13 years. Celtic also won the Scottish Cup in the spring, which is a knockout-style tournament for all professional clubs in Scotland. It marks the 42nd time the team — affectionately called “the Hoops” or “the Bhoys” — have earned the trophy. Brendan Rodgers, who has coached several English Premiere League teams in the past, is entering his second season of his second stint managing with the club.
Manchester City, meanwhile, are also on a run of dominance in the top-flight English football league. The defending Premiere League Champions are coming off their fourth consecutive year at the top of the table and completed a remarkable calendar year in 2023. Beyond winning the Premiere League title, City won the UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup. Managed by Pep Guardiola, who has overseen Manchester City since 2016, the club is known for its nearly-Carolina blue kits and supporters base called “the Citizens.”
More information on Celtic’s history can be found on the club website here, and Manchester City’s history can be found here.
WHERE DO THE TEAMS PLAY NEXT?
Chapel Hill marks the first stop in Manchester City’s preseason tour of the United States. The team will jet from North Carolina to New York to play in Yankees Stadium for a friendly against Italian club AC Milan on Saturday, July 27. After that, City will play against Spain’s F.C. Barcelona in Orlando, F.L. before closing out the stateside trip with a friendly against Premiere League peer Chelsea in Columbus, O.H.
Celtic will also close their U.S. tour with a friendly against Chelsea, this time at Notre Dame’s football stadium on July 27. The Chapel Hill match will be the second of the trip for the Hoops, as they will face MLS’ D.C. United on Saturday in Washington D.C.
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