Rhode Island FC has announced that its first-ever match at Beirne Stadium, Bryant University, on Saturday, March 16th, against New Mexico United of the USL Championship Western Conference, is sold out. The historic occasion will kick off at 4 p.m.
Rhode Island FC President Brett Luy said, “This community has made an enormous statement by filling up every seat at Beirne Stadium for our historic home opener— Rhode Island FC is a club for all Rhode Islanders, and this state is proud to finally have a professional soccer club to call its own. March 16th will be an evening of generational memories, and we can’t wait to bring the noise, rock the stadium and show that the Ocean State is Anchored in Community.”
The matchday events on Saturday include Fan Fest, Food Truck Village, a special Black Hawk flyover, family-friendly activities, a live national anthem performance by Rhode Island native and American Idol top-ten finisher Erika Van Pelt, and multiple appearances by local celebrity Chip the Harbor Seal. The gates open at 3 p.m., and fans are encouraged to arrive early due to anticipated high traffic conditions. The parking lots open at 1 p.m., and information on tailgating is available at rhodeislandfc.com/a-z-guide.
If you cannot attend the match in person, you can tune in on NESN, the exclusive regional broadcaster of Rhode Island FC, or ESPN+. To find a TV provider that carries NESN, visit GetNESN.com. You can also sign up for NESN 360 for 24-7 access to NESN by visiting NESN360.com. For additional information on ESPN+, visit plus.espn.com.
Limited tickets are available for RIFC’s second home match of the season when the club hosts the 2023 Eastern Conference Champions, Charleston Battery, on Saturday, April 6th, at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit rhodeislandfc.com/tickets.