First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park - North Carolina Courage
- Gregory Koch
- 3 hours ago
- 7 min read
Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86
First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park 201 Soccer Park Dr Cary, NC 27511
Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 10,000
Carolina Courage Country
The North Carolina Courage have been playing in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) since 2017, when the Western New York Flash relocated to Cary. The Courage play their home games at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, a 10,000 seat stadium that is surrounded by various back fields which are also part of the Soccer Park.
The Courage have won two NWSL Championships in less than a decade of existence, as well as three NWSL Shields for topping the regular season standings. However, all of these titles came in their first three seasons of existence - they have not won any since 2019.
Food & Beverage 5
There are several permanent concession stands scattered throughout the concourse at First Horizon Stadium, offering an above average variety of options. Burgers, chicken tenders, Pizza Hut pizza, Chick-fil-A sandwiches, and more are available. For those looking for a sweet treat, Two Roosters Ice Cream is a local favorite as well, and there is also frozen lemonade available.
However, what earns the Courage the top score is the food trucks at Fan Fest. We will discuss Fan Fest some more in the next section, but there will be several food trucks parked behind the north goal at every home game. The selection varies by game, but there is usually a taco truck as well as several others. When we visited, food trucks were selling acai bowls, mac and cheese, barbecue, Aussie meat pies, tacos, and more. If you buy your tickets in advance, you will get an email at 5 PM the day before the game listing the food truck vendors.
Atmosphere 4
The atmosphere at a North Carolina Courage game is electric from the moment you walk into the stadium. If entering through either of the gates on the north side, this will put you right in Fan Fest. In addition to the food trucks we mentioned in the last section, you will find face painting, games, inflatables, giveaways, and more. It is a great place to hang out and have some fun before the match starts. Be sure to be in your seats shortly before kickoff, as the team anthem "Higher Love" plays over the PA system and fans are encouraged to sing along.
First Horizon Stadium is more intimate than most NWSL venues, seating just 10,000 fans, the smallest capacity in the league. Seats surround the field on all four sides, all running parallel to the sidelines or endlines. There are no diagonal-facing corner seats like at some venues. The 100 sections are on the west sideline, and then the numbers increase going counter-clockwise. The 200s are on the south endline, the 300s on the east sideline, and the 400s behind the north goal. There is a second deck numbered in the 500s above the 300 seats. Pretty much every seat in the building has an outstanding view of the action. Most seats are metal or plastic bleachers without backs, although Sections 103-108 do have backs.
Much of the atmosphere at a North Carolina Courage game is created by the Supporters Section and other fans. We will have more on that in the appropriate section. The Supporters Groups are in Sections 204 and 205. If buying tickets here, expect to be standing for the entire match, surrounded by loud drums and waving flags. If this is not for you, simply buy seats anywhere else in the stadium. Fans of the visiting team should stay out of the Supporters Section in any case, although they will encounter no issues in the rest of the stadium.
Given the constant pace of action in soccer, there is very little going on during the game other than the match itself. However, there are contests on the field and videoboard pregame and at halftime. The Courage mascot is Roary the Lion, who can be seen on the field pregame and roaming the stands during the match interacting with fans.
Neighborhood 3
First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park is located in Cary, a smaller city in the Raleigh-Durham area. The neighborhood surrounding the stadium is somewhat limited by the railroad tracks along Chatham Road to the north. If you're willing to drive a short distance, there are many good Indian and Asian places within a couple mile radius. You may pass some on your way in depending on how you get here. You can also find sports bars, tacos, and more. Most of these businesses are near the train station to the west of the soccer stadium.
Fans 4
As is often the case in soccer, the fans bring a tremendous amount of energy to North Carolina Courage games. Although the team ranks in the bottom third of the league in attendance, this is mainly due to the small size of the stadium and the crowd is regularly filled to 80% or more of capacity. The Courage have had several sellouts this year and never fell below 70% full in 2026 as of the time of writing.
A lot of the energy is brought by the two Supporters Groups, Uproar and AmbushNC. These fans stand in Sections 204 and 205 for the entire match,, cheering, chanting, singing, waving flags, and banging drums. It can be quite the atmosphere. However, even non-Supporters will get loud to support their team. Chants of "Let's Go Courage" regularly ring out through the stadium. Before Courage corner kicks, fans will "Feel the Steel" by stomping on the metal bleachers to make some noise. When the Courage's opponents take a corner, the fans will chant "Keep It Out".
Overall, the Courage have an outstanding and rapidly growing fan base.
Access 2
This is unfortunately the one area in which the Courage do not score highly. Just getting to WakeMed Soccer Park can be challenging. There is no exit directly off I-40 for Chatham Road, so you will need to get off nearby and go around the block. These local roads can get backed up, especially close to gametime, and if coming from the north, you also have to navigate a railroad crossing and hope a train does not come by and delay things. If coming from the east, your best bet is to get off I-40 at Cary Towne Boulevard. From the west, get off at NC 54.
Note that some GPS apps will have you take NC 54 to Trinity Road. However, Trinity Road will be closed off at the railroad crossing just north of the stadium, so you will be unable to go straight across Chatham Road into the stadium. You will need to take Chatham Road itself. If you are a VIP, Season Ticket Holder, or require ADA parking, you will enter on Soccer Park Road. Everyone else will enter on Trinity Road, across Chatham from the closed off crossing. Fortunately, there are signs directing you.
Parking is in several grass or gravel lots, which then require walking across more gravel and literally over a river and through the woods to get to the stadium. (Well, it's a small creek anyway.) If these lots fill up, which they will, overflow parking is available in the Orange Parking Deck at Fenton, about a half mile walk from the stadium, again on unpaved gravel. This walk can be difficult in the Carolina summer heat, but is not actually as long as it may feel at first.
Once you are in the stadium, there are some steps to go up and down, especially on the 300/500 side of the field. Fortunately, there are ramps and/or elevators for those who require them, but it is still unnecessarily complicated.
The good news is that there are plenty of restrooms and you should not need to wait.
Getting out after the game can also be tricky as traffic backs up much as it does on the way in. It can take about 15 minutes to get out of the lot, but once you do, you should encounter no further issues.
Return on Investment 4
The price of Courage tickets can vary by about $5 to $10 depending on the game, but generally start at around $22. However, most of these lowest-price seats are either obstructed view or in the Supporters Section. Other seats behind the goal go for only a few dollars more. Sideline seats on the east side will typically cost between $30 and $70 depending on how close to midfield you are and which game you attend. Seats on the west sideline, where many seats have chairbacks, the sun will be at your back, and you will be in the shade for evening games, go for about $10-$20 more. There are also some pitchside seats which are primarily for season ticket holders but you may be able to get some on the secondary market if you're willing to pay a lot.
Concessions at the permanent stand are not too expensive. The food trucks cost more but are much better quality so are well worth it..
Overall, a North Carolina Courage game is an outstanding value.
Extras 5
Fan Fest is worthy of an extra star here, with the food trucks and all the activities.
The pregame singalong of "Higher Love" is also worthy of a bonus star.
Be sure to check out the Ring of Honor behind the 300 seats, honoring Courage legends Sam Mewis, Jessica McDonald, and the most recent inductee, Crystal Dunn. The only downside is that you cannot see it from the 300 seats themselves.
Look for the Home of Champions Banner behind the 100 sections honoring the Courage's regular and postseason NWSL championships as well as other trophies they have won.
A fifth and final star for the wide variety of Courage merchandise available for sale.
Final Thoughts
A North Carolina Courage game is an outstanding experience from start to finish. From fans tailgating outside before gates open, to Fan Fest and other pregame fun, to the game itself, you will enjoy yourself here from the moment you arrive. Soccer fans in North Carolina will definitely want to head to the WakeMed Soccer Park to see a Courage game.
