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Stay up to date with WRAL’s Kenan Stadium news and reporting coverage

Kenan Stadium News and Reporting Coverage | WRAL

Kenan Stadium Coverage

Coach Bill Belichick led his team across campus to Kenan Stadium on Monday through cheering fans. Though the night didn't end how some hoped, Tar Heel fans told WRAL News they hope it does not foreshadow what to expect for the rest of the season. 

TO 90. COMING UP. >> IT IS A NEW ERA HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AFTER DECADES OF SUCCESS IN THE NFL, BILL BELICHECK COACHING HIS FIRST COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME AT UNC. THIS IS A LIVE LOOK AT KENAN STADIUM AS FANS ARE FINALLY OUT, DISAPPOINTED THE TAR HEELS FACING TEXAS CHRISTIAN AS WE SPEAK RIGHT NOW. TCU UP. 41 TO 14. AND ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT GOING TO TAR HEELS WAY AT ALL, THE EXCITEMENT HAS BEEN BUILDING FOR MONTHS. AND HERE'S A LIVE LOOK AT FRANKLIN STREET IN CHAPEL HILL. THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING. SURE, MAYBE DROWN THEIR SORROWS, SO TO SPEAK. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE FANS ARE HOPING FOR A BIG TURNAROUND IN GAME 2. IT'S A LONG SEASON. THANKS FOR JOINING US. I'M GERALD OWENS AND I'M LENA TILLETT. CERTAINLY SUBDUED IN THIS LIVE PICTURE HERE IN CHAPEL HILL. BUT VERY DIFFERENT ENERGY EARLIER THIS EVENING WHEN COACH BELICHECK LED HIS TEAM ACROSS CAMPUS. >> TO KENAN STADIUM THROUGH CHEERING FANS. WE HAVE LIVE TEAM COVERAGE TONIGHT OF THE SEASON OPENER AGAINST TCU. LET'S BEGIN WITH WRAL'S HEIDI KIRK LIVE IN CHAPEL HILL. OF COURSE, HEIDI FANS HOPE TONIGHT DOES NOT FORESHADOW WHAT WE CAN EXPECT THE REST OF THE SEASON. >> AND WHAT WE KNOW. YOU GOT THAT RIGHT. AND WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE LEAVING THE STADIUM AS WE SPEAK. TAKE A LOOK BEHIND ME. I MEAN, DOZENS OF PEOPLE POURING OUT AND THERE'S A LOT OF DISAPPOINTMENT IN THIS CROWD. WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO FANS ALL DAY LONG AND THERE WAS A LOT OF EXCITEMENT OR LEON. BUT OF COURSE, NOW THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF OUR BRAIN GIVEN THE SCORE OF THAT GAME NEXT. BUT WE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF STUDENTS HERE ON CAMPUS JUST WITHIN THE HOUR AND SOME OF THEM HAVE MAINTAINED THAT OPTIMISM >> I JUST LIKE I WOULD NEVER JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON LIKE I WILL ALWAYS LIKE SUPPORT MY TEAM NO MATTER WHAT. SO EVEN IF WE'RE DOWN AND EVEN IF WE LOSE TONIGHT LIKE I THINK YOU JUST KEEP SHOWING UP AND YOU KEEP TRYING. I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS ALL DAY AND ALL WEEK, HONESTLY, LIKE THIS IS THE MOST I'VE SEEN UNC RALLY BEHIND FOOTBALL LIKE AND LIKE ALL JUST UNLIKE MORALE, JUST LIKE ADVANCES. EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. SO THAT SO-CALLED SEEMED LIKE THE WHOLE SCHOOL RIGHT BEHIND IT. >> OR AS IVAN SINCE MY FRESHMAN SAW FAVORABLE JUNIOR. SO YEAH. >> NOW THAT IS SOMETHING THAT LOTS OF ANSWER HANGING ON TO DENY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN A ROUGH NIGHT FOR THE TAR HEELS. MANY OF THEM HOPE THAT THEY'LL MAKE A LATER ON THIS SEASON. AND SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN'T TAKE AWAY FROM. THESE FOLKS. IS THAT EXCITEMENT THAT WAS ALL ACROSS CAMPUS TODAY. IN FACT, A LOT OF ACTIVITIES, THINGS GOING ON. MANY PEOPLE SAYING IT'S MORE EXCITING THAT THEY HAD EVER SEEN HERE ON USC'S CAMPUS. GO AHEAD AND TAKE A LISTEN. >> UNC HEAD FOOTBALL COACH BILL BELICHECK WALKS THROUGH CAMPUS. IT'S A SITE STUDENTS LIKE PRESTON, MULLINS NEVER THOUGHT THEY'D SEE. HE'S A LEGENDARY COACH. ALL THE SUPER BOWLS WITH THE PATRIOTS AND THE NFL. IT'S HONESTLY AMAZING TO BE HERE FOR THIS. EVEN BEFORE THE FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON. BELICHECK HE'S ALREADY BROKEN RECORDS. THE TAR HEELS ANNOUNCING THEY'VE SOLD OUT EVERY HOME FOOTBALL GAME THIS SEASON BELICHECK EVEN TURNING THE COMPETITION IN TO NEW FANS OF THIS IS A HISTORICAL MOMENT ON A RAVENS FANS AND NOT THE BIGGEST BELICHECK DAMAGE ABOUT 6. AND YOU KNOW, YOU GO YOU AND SAY. >> BOTH OLD AND NEW TRADITIONS ON CAMPUS KICKING OFF THE VERY FIRST GAME, STARTING WITH THE OLD WELL WALK WITH BELICHECK LEADING HIS TEAM ACROSS CAMPUS FROM THE OLD WELL TO THE STADIUM THROUGH THE CHAPEL THROUGH CONCERT SERIES AT POLK PLACE BY THINK JUST LIKE THE COLLECTIVE ENERGY AROUND THE CAMPUS LATELY WITH HIS COMING UP. IT'S BEEN AMAZING AND A REALLY GREAT STUDENTS ARE HOPING TO SET SOME RECORDS THIS YEAR, MAYBE EVEN WIN A BOWL GAME. BELICHICK. AND SO FOR MY SENIOR. YEAH, A NEW ERA FOR UNC FOOTBALL. >> IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE KEEP HEARING FROM FANS OUT HERE TONIGHT. THIS GAME WILL NOT DEFINE THE ENTIRE SEASON. SO EVERYONE STILL CLEANING THEIR TV'S WATCHING THE LAST FEW MINUTES OF THIS GAME. AND OF COURSE, THEN THEY'LL BE

UNC Kicks off season with Coach Bill Belichick's college football debut

WRAL anchor/reporter Dan Haggety sported a sleeveless sweatshirt before legendary head coach Bill Belichick's collegiate debut against TCU.

KEY US. >> ALL RIGHT. WELCOME BACK. NOW, LOOK. I KNOW THIS DOESN'T LOOK GOOD. I CAN SEE MYSELF IN THE MIRROR PRIOR DAY COMING OUT HERE. IT'S NOT. IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK. I DON'T KNOW WHY PEOPLE HAVE DECIDED IT IS. LET ME EXPLAIN YOUR BILL BELICHECK BRINGS A BUNCH OF EYEBALLS TO THE UNC PROGRAM. THIS GAME AGAINST TCU WILL BE THE LAST TO BE ON NATIONAL TELEVISION. THAT IS A GOOD THING FOR THE PROGRAM. AND THE UNIVERSITY'S BOTTOM LINE. >> BUT LET'S BE HONEST ON THE FASHION SIDE. THIS IS A BIG DOWNSIDE. ALL RIGHT. THE FACT IS. THIS IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING PEOPLE COULD BE WEARING IN PUBLIC. NOW, THE OUTPUT OF CHOICE OF THE HIGHEST PAID STATE EMPLOYEE IN NORTH CAROLINA. I KNOW YOU CAN AFFORD FULL SLEEVES. WE'VE SEEN YOUR PAYCHECK. IT'S LIKE 10 MILLION A YEAR. I KNOW THE GOVERNOR STOP WEARING TIES. >> BUT NOW THIS WE'RE NOT EVEN FULL SLEEVES. IT'S A PROBLEM. BUT ONE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH, ESPECIALLY IF UNC WIN SOME FOOTBALL GAMES, WHICH THE PLAN IS FOR THEM TO WIN SOME FOOTBALL GAMES. THIS COULD BE A LAST LOOK. >> LIVE OUTSIDE AS WE ARE NOW. NO MORE LIVE PICS. WE'LL HAVE A LIVE PIC. YOUR STOCK JUST LOOKING AT THIS OUTFIT. WELL, THANK GOODNESS. >> SAVE THE PEOPLE AT HOME. ALL THIS LEAVES ON TONIGHT AS HE'S WALKING INTO THE STADIUM. WHAT A 30 MINUTES NOW FROM KICKOFF. UNC FOOTBALL PLAYER SAYING THIS IS THE BIGGEST GAME THEY WILL EVER PLAY IN, WHICH IS A TOUGH THING TO SAY WHEN IT'S ONLY WEEK ONE. THANK YOU

WRAL's Dan Haggerty parodies Bill Belichick's signature sleeveless sweatshirt look

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET Monday between North Carolina and TCU.

CONNECT. >> ALL RIGHT. WE'RE BACK TO OUR COVERAGE OF BILL BELICHECK IN ALL THE EXCITEMENT OUT AT UNC WRAL'S HEIDI KIRK JOINING US NOW LIVE ON CAMPUS. YOU SAW THE WACA BEAR WITH BILL BELICHECK IN THE TEAM AT THE ALL TOO. WELL, WHAT WAS THAT LIKE SO MUCH ENERGY. >> WELL, WE KNOW IF THERE WAS EXCITEMENT HERE ON CAMPUS BEFORE, THERE CERTAINLY IS. NOW THE ENERGY IS JUST AMAZING HERE ON CAMPUS. TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON BEHIND ME. WE HAVE SOME TAILGATERS OUT HERE JUST EXCITED FOR THAT GAME TO BEGIN IN JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS NOW AND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS VIDEO ON YOUR SCREEN AGAIN. OUR PHOTOGRAPHER RAN WITH THE CROWD TO CAPTURE THIS MOMENT WHEN BELICHECK IN THE REST OF THE TEAM WALKED ACROSS CAMPUS. THAT MOMENT IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO STICK WITH. SO MANY YOUNG FANS HERE ON CAMPUS FOR EVER REALLY THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. I'M ACTUALLY BACK OUT HERE LIVE. I'M JOINED BY ONE OF AND THIS IS A QUESTION LINDSAY THAT RUSSIA AND HERE AT UNC NOW PRECEDENT. I KNOW YOU'VE GOT JUST A GLIMPSE OF BELICHECK. WHAT WAS THAT MOMENT LIKE? AND WHAT DOES THE EXCITEMENT LIKE HERE ON CAMPUS? YEAH, IT WAS REALLY AMAZING TO SEE HIM RIGHT HERE ON CAMPUS. YOU SEE HIM WINNING SUPER BOWL FOR THE PATRIOTS FOR YEARS. I PERSONALLY MANY CAROLINA FANS. IT'S ALWAYS A LITTLE. SO I'M SUPER EXCITED TO BE A FRESHMAN HERE. REALLY THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE UNC FOOTBALL TEAM HOST BOB DYLAN, CHECK FOR MY FIRST EVER. UNC FOOTBALL GAMES. THE STUDENTS REALLY MADE THAT YOU REALLY HEAR THE EXCITEMENT HERE IN HIS VOICE AND NOT SOMETHING THAT PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE HERE ON CAMPUS IS FEELING. YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER BEEN A UNC FAN, BUT BEING HERE, I REALLY AM. SHE WAS JUST BEING AMONGST OTHER BANS ON CAMPUS. EVERYONE COUNTING DOWN TO THAT GAME. >> I CAUGHT YOUR EYE ON IS LIVE IN CHAPEL HILL TOP NOTCH

Bill Belichick, players participate in Old Well Walk before game vs. TCU

UNC gears up for Bill Belichick's coaching debut with an electrifying lineup of events, including the new 'Chapel Thrill Concert Series' featuring country music star and former Carolina football player Chase Rice.


UNC kicks off Bill Belichick's football debut with series of all-day, on-campus events

Chapel Bill, Bill Belichick, UNC Chapel Hill sports, football

Rick Barakat, the new chief revenue officer for the school's athletic department, told a UNC Board of Trustees committee on Wednesday that the process to sell naming rights has begun.

UNC seeking naming rights sponsor for Kenan Stadium

Kenan Stadium

Many came to Kenan Stadium to participate in a stair climb that honored lives lost and first responders who answered the call on Sept. 11, 2001.


Sept. 11 stair climb tribute at UNC honors the fallen, first responders

9-11 stair climb at UNC

Many in the community came to walk in the annual stair climb at UNC's Kenan Stadium to honor the first responders who sacrificed their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, A DELAY FREE. &gt;&gt; KEN, THANKS RIGHT NOW, A SYMBOLIC STAIR CLIMB AT KENAN STADIUM ON USC'S CAMPUS IS JUST GETTING STARTED IT'S A WAY TO HONOR THE LIVES LOST AND FIRST RESPONDERS ON SEPTEMBER. 11TH 2001 WRAL'S NICK PERLIN JOINS US LIVE FROM KENAN STADIUM RIGHT NOW. AND NIC, TELL US ABOUT THE DEEPER MEANING BEHIND THIS MISSION. &gt;&gt; BORN IN THIS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR AND THE MEANING IS THEY WANT TO CLIMB THE STAIRS OF THE STANDS HERE BEHIND ME TO HONOR THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO RISK THEIR LIFE TO SAVE AS MANY PEOPLE AS THEY POSSIBLY COULD ON 9.11. RIGHT NOW, SPEAKERS ARE ACTUALLY TALKING TO THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING READY TO CLIMB THE STAIRS HERE AT KENAN MEMORIAL STADIUM TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT A LITTLE BIT MORE BACKGROUND ON THIS EVENT. AND, OF COURSE, HONOR THE THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES DUE TO THE TERRORIST ATTACKS. THAT HAPPENED ON 9.11. THEY'RE GOING TO GET READY TO CLIMB THE STAIRS VERY SHORTLY AFTER THESE BRIEF REMARKS ARE OVER AT THE PODIUM AND WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE ALL MORNING TO WATCH PEOPLE AND SHOW THEIR RESPECTS TO THOSE FIRST RESPONDERS. AND OF COURSE, THE PEOPLE WHO TRAGICALLY DIED ON SEPTEMBER. 11TH 2001. SO MAKE SURE YOU CHECK BACK IN WITH ME THAT THIS MORNING. WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU PEOPLE CLIMBING THE STAIRS AND PAYING RESPECTS THE PEOPLE WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE THAT DAY REPORTING LIVE IN

Sept. 11 stair climb at UNC's Kenan Stadium

The Carolina Association of Black Journalists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is hosting a public screening of the WRAL documentary "Ghosts in the Stadium" in honor of Black History Month.

UNC student group to screen WRAL doc 'Ghosts in the Stadium' for Black History Month

Ghosts in the Stadium

Thousands of roaring fans have cheered in stadiums like Carter-Finley or pounded their feet on the bleachers at a Panthers game in Charlotte - never knowing the complex history hidden by each of these sites.

Ghosts in the Stadium: How four iconic Carolina football stadiums buried Black history

Wilmington Massacre connection with Kenan Stadium at UNC.

WRAL Investigative Documentary Producer Cristin Severance and WRAL Sports Anchor Chris Lea set out to uncover who these stadiums were named after, where they were built and what communities they displaced.

THAT IT IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH ITS MANUFACTURING PARTNERS TO ACCELERATE ADDITIONAL SUPPLY. A BRAND-NEW WRAL DOCUMENTARY GHOSTS IN THE STADIUM EXAMINES THE COMPLICATED HISTORY AT 4 ICONIC FOOTBALL STADIUMS IN THE CAROLINAS. &gt;&gt; WRAL, INVESTIGATIVE DOCUMENTARY REPORTER KRISTEN SEVERANCE PRODUCED THE DOCK. IT'S HOSTED BY CHRIS LEE. KRISTEN INTERVIEWED CHRIS ABOUT THE PROJECT. &gt;&gt; I'M JOINED NOW WITH WRAL ANCHOR CHRIS LEE, HOST OF OUR BRAND NEW DOCUMENTARY GOES IN THE STADIUM. CHRIS, THIS IS FINALLY, YOU KNOW, GOING TO BE RELEASED, YOU KNOW, TO THE WORLD AFTER WE'VE WORKED ON THIS FOR MONTHS NOW, WANT TO START BY EXPLAINING, YOU KNOW WHY YOU STARTED EVEN LOOKING INTO, YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY OF THE STADIUM'S. I THINK THE ONE THAT REALLY STARTED OFFICE LAST YEAR, OCTOBER 1ST, WHAT WAS GOING ON THE CLEMSON WITH PAT WELTER TO COVER THIS BIG NORTH CAROLINA STATE AT CLEMSON GAME. AND AS I WAS GOING INTO THE STADIUM IN THE MEDIA ENTRANCE, LOOK TO MY RIGHT AND SEE THIS PLACARD THAT SAID THAT. &gt;&gt; THIS IS THE BURIAL GROUND, A FORMER ENSLAVED PEOPLE AND THERE WERE NO MARKINGS. AND SO WHEN I GOT INSIDE AND WANTED TO LOOK INTO IT A LITTLE BIT MORE AND SAW THE SCHOOL JUST PUBLICLY KNOWLEDGE. IT WAS THERE JUST A YEAR BEFORE THAT. SO I WANT TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE. I FELT LIKE THIS NEEDED MORE THAN JUST A MINUTE AND 30 PACKAGE, RIGHT? YEAH, IT'S STUCK WITH YOU. AND THEN YOU STARTED LOOKING INTO THESE OTHER STADIUMS, RIGHT? YEAH. ALREADY KNEW ABOUT BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM BEEN COVERING THE PANTHERS FOR A WHILE HERE AND AT MY PREVIOUS JOB. SO I KNEW ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING THERE AND THEN I READ WILMINGTON'S LIE BY DAVID TURKEY. KNOW AND I KNEW A LITTLE BIT MORE FROM THAT BOOK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE AND KEENAN WHO KENAN MEMORIAL STADIUM WAS NAMED AFTER ORIGINALLY. AND I DIDN'T KNOW THAT BEFORE. AND SO ONCE I KNEW ABOUT THOSE 3 STADIUMS. I HAD TO TALK TO HEATHER HERE, WHO'S YOU KNOW, RESIDENT HISTORIAN WITH THE DOZEN WRO HIDDEN HISTORY. AND THEN SHE TOLD ME ABOUT CARTER FINLEY STADIUM AND THAT'S A LITTLE FIGHT FOR ME THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING. THERE'S A DISCUSSION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. DEFINITELY. I'M SO GLAD YOU PITCHED AS A DOCUMENTARY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, CONNECTING ALL OF THEM. &gt;&gt; AND RESEARCHING ALL OF THE SITE. I LEARNED SO MUCH YOUR FROM NORTH CAROLINA. YOU LEARNED SO MUCH. WHAT DO YOU HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WALK AWAY WITH AFTER WATCHING &gt;&gt; AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WANT MORE DISCUSSIONS TO HAPPEN. WE'RE IN AN INTERESTING TIME RIGHT NOW IN OUR SOCIETY WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE RUNNING AWAY FROM HISTORY BECAUSE THERE ARE FREE TO FEEL BETTER TO MAKE OTHERS FEEL BAD. AND I THINK THAT'S NOT THE WAY TO KIND OF GO ABOUT THINGS RIGHT. LIKE WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT WE WEREN'T AROUND FOR WHAT HAPPENED BACK IN THE DAY. BUT WHAT HAPPENED HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO DOES IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES. LOOK TODAY. AND SO WE COULD TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT, HOW IT IMPACTS DAY. MAYBE WE CAN MAKE A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR KIDS. RIGHT? AND EVERY HISTORIAN, EVERY PROFESSOR WE INTERVIEWED SAID THE SAME THING. LET'S TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S TRUE. IT HAPPENED. HOPE YOU ALL CAN WATCH GOES IN. THE STADIUM AIRS WEDNESDAY

'Ghosts in the Stadium' premieres at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday

WRAL documentary 'Ghosts in the Stadium' examines unknown past of four iconic football stadiums in the Carolinas

A WRAL documentary examines the complicated history of some of North Carolina's most cherished football stadiums.

Thousands of cheering fans gather every week blind to the history of pain beneath their feet. Why are those lands? Ok? To build on all of the information, documenting all of this is in the archives. History is ugly. History is not going to always make you feel good news, uncovered hidden secrets at some of the most iconic stadiums in the Carolinas and how the stories of our past continue to affect our daily lives. Wednesday at 7 30 on WRL.

Ghosts in the stadium: How the past conflicts with our fandom

WRAL's Documentary, "Ghosts in the Stadium," is the story of four iconic stadiums in the Carolinas and their links to the painful history of race relations in the United States.

WRAL Documentary: Ghosts in the Stadium

New WRAL Doc, 'Ghosts in the Stadium,' airs Wednesday

Chelsea and Wrexham finally faced off Wednesday and it was a match that made some people travel across the country to witness.

ALIVE. GERALD, THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE. CHRIS, THANK YOU. >> 10'S OF THOUSANDS OF FANS, 2 TEAMS, ONE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED MATCH TONIGHT SHOWDOWN BETWEEN CHELSEA AND WREXHAM DELIVERED THROWS FOR THE DIEHARD SOCCER FANS OR FOOTBALL WRAL'S. ERIC MILLER HAS BEEN AT THE STADIUM ALL DAY. ERIC, HOW WAS IT OUT THERE? >> LATER FOR THESE FANS, IT WAS PRETTY FANTASTIC. THIS MATCH WILL BE WRAPPED UP ABOUT 10 MINUTES AGO. AND IF YOU'RE CHELSEA FAN, YOU'RE FEELING REAL. GOOD TONIGHT TO GET AWAY THOSE FLAGS AROUND LOUD AND PROUD FOR A MATCH. AND THEN AFTER MONTHS OF ANTICIPATION HAS NOW TURNED INTO A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION. >> NEW FANS WITH FAN SURNAME CHELSEA. SO HAHA, IT DIDN'T MATTER. WEDNESDAY'S MATCH THROUGH THE MALL. WE GET TO SEE THEM UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THE BELIEF AND THE SHOCKER INVASION. BRINGING OUT 10'S OF THOUSANDS. SOME REALLY DID CROSS THE CONTINENT TO BE HERE. AND WE DROVE 12 HOURS YESTERDAY TO GET HERE. AND WE'VE ARRESTED THIS MORNING. WE'RE DRIVING 12 HOURS TO GO BACK HOME TOMORROW FOR THE TEAMS COMPETED ON THE CHANCE TO DO DOWN OUTSIDE THE STADIUM THROUGH THESE SMALL AND LARGE IN CHAPEL HILL. >> NOW ORGANIZERS SAY AGAIN, THEY SOLD MORE THAN 50,000 TICKETS TO TONIGHT'S MATCH. HAD FOLKS FROM ALL 50 STATES AND 6 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES HERE THIS TRULY AN EXTRAORDINARY 9, 1, TO REMEMBER HERE IN CHAPEL

Thousands of fans turn out for huge soccer match in Chapel Hill

Soccer takes center stage in the Triangle Wednesday as two top English teams, Chelsea and Wrexham, square off.

SEVERAL DAYS. HEAT INDEX COMING UP. ELIZABETH THANKS. SOCCER TAKES CENTER STAGE IN THE TRIANGLE TODAY HAS 2 TOP ENGLISH TEAMS, CHELSEA AND WREXHAM SQUARE OFF. &gt;&gt; THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED MATCH IS BRINGING PEOPLE IN FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, INCLUDING WREXHAM'S OWNER RYAN REYNOLDS WRAL'S. LAURA LEVINE JOINS US LIVE FROM CHAPEL HILL WITH WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM TRAFFIC IMPACTS TO TICKETS FOR A GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, RENEE. YES, 10'S OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO FLOCK HERE TO KENAN STADIUM IN CHAPEL HILL. BEHIND ME. YOU CAN SEE THE FAN ZONE ALREADY SET UP. WE HAVE STAGES. WE HAVE TENTS. WE HAVE SIGNS AND ALL THE EXCITEMENT FOR THOSE CROWDS COMING IN. CHAPEL HILL IS TYPICALLY KNOWN FOR GETTING THIS TYPE OF ATTENTION FOR BASKETBALL. BUT NOW THE TOWN IS GETTING PUT ON THE MAP. &gt;&gt; BY HOSTING THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SOCCER MATCH UP OF THIS SERIES. SO THAT MEANS TRAFFIC WILL BE HEAVY. I SPOKE WITH THE ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF WHO RECOMMENDS DRIVERS AVOID MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR BOULEVARD TO COME INTO TOWN IN THE YELLOW HERE ON THIS MAP. YOU CAN SEE IT SHOWS DIRECTIONS FROM I-40 EAST. YOU WANT TO TAKE 15, 501, TO EXIT TO 70 AND HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN HERE. IF YOU TAKE I-40 WEST, YOU'LL GET ON TO NC. 54. THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO EXIT TO 73 A. &gt;&gt; WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO BIKE AND WALK ON ANY GIVEN DAY. IT WILL BE EVEN BECAUSE OF THE GAME. AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE CARS ARE LOOKING OUT FOR THOSE PEOPLE. AND AND, YOU KNOW, DRIVING IN A WAY THAT KEEPS EVERYBODY SAFE. &gt;&gt; SO THIS IS THE FIRST EXHIBITION IN THE U.S. FOR WREXHAM. THE TEAM OWNED BY RYAN RYAN. REYNOLDS TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT AND MANY SURROUNDING HOTELS ARE BOOKED. THE GAME WILL PUMP ABOUT 15 MILLION DOLLARS INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY. AND AS FAR AS PARKING WILL ALL KENAN STADIUM PARKING LOTS WILL BE OPEN AND AVAILABLE. BUT YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THAT. &gt;&gt; BEFORE GETTING HERE, ALSO RIDESHARE AND A BUS PUBLIC TRANSIT IS ALSO ENCOURAGE. WE HAVE MORE DETAILS ABOUT PARKING ON WRAL DOT COM. LAURA LEVINE, WRAL NEWS LIVE IN