The Teams are Set, Now Book Your Vacation!

The Charleston Battery announced the details of the 2011 Carolina Challenge Cup today.  The eighth year of the tournament will begin Saturday, March 5, and continue Wednesday March 9 and culminating on March 12.  DC United, Toronto FC and the Chicago Fire will spend the week in Charleston finalizing their preparation for the 2011 MLS season.

The tournament is becoming a  preseason stable for many teams and the Battery have once again had request from multiple MLS teams to join the tournament.

Toronto FC will return for a fifth year and look to be bringing a sizable supporter contingent once again.

It will be Chicago Fire's first trip to Charleston.  The Battery defeated Chicago last year in the US Open Cup sending them out of the tournament.

DC United will return as defending champions of last year tournament winner.  Along with the competing for the Carolina Challenge Cup, DC and Charleston will fight for the the Coffee Pot Cup.



DC United supporters drinking beer out of the Coffee Pot Cup

The Coffee Pot Cup began after an incident following DC United shocking 1999 loss to Charleston in the US Open Cup, DC United players vented their frustration on the locker room of the then new Blackbaud Stadium, destroying, among other things, a coffee pot.  A few years later, supporters of both sides decided to have an actual Coffee Pot played for between the sides as a friendly wager. The winner has the other team's supporters fill the Cup with beer for the winning team's supporters to enjoy.  

The week long tournament is becoming a large draw for supporters looking to have a good time and cast off the cobwebs of a long off season.  Many travel to spend the entire week at the tournament, renting beach houses at a fraction of the individual cost for hotels. 

The week is punctuated with several events outside the matches.  The Battery supporters group, the Regiment, host tailgates for all the visiting fans, with plenty of food and libations.  The last two years, the Happy Hooligan's pub crawl have been a success.  Dozens of supporters from the teams involved enjoy a night out in downtown Charleston.  Look for more information closer to the tournament dates.
Please leave a comment if anyone needs help planning a trip to Charleston.  There are tons of options for just about anyone.