It’s been nine months since we hosted a USL2 match and now the moment has nearly arrived. Ballard FC host our home opener at Memorial Stadium this Friday, May 24th at 7 PM, where we will face off against Midlakes United who are new this year to the USL2 Northwest Division.
Ballard FC look to secure the first win of the 2024 season following our 2-2 draw against another new side, Tacoma Stars. In a chippy and back-and-forth affair, the desire of the Ballard FC players was constant, and highlighted when Christian Engmann scored off of a last minute corner, securing a point to start the year. More about that match here.
The Opponent
Midlakes United are new to the USL2 this season. Based out of Bellevue, Midlakes United play their home games at Bellevue College and feature a roster of mostly PNW-based collegiate players, including former Ballard FC players Bailey Letherman, Kevin Galiano, and Zane Baumgardt. They started off their season with a challenging road trip to Lane United FC which resulted in a 3-1 loss. They will surely be looking to bounce back this Friday.
Know Before You Go
We have a lot in store for this match and all season long! Read up on everything you need to know and get your tickets now if you haven’t already!
Gates: Gates open at 5:30pm! The first 150 fans in the door will get a free match poster of the design above. We also recommend arriving early to beat the food and beer lines, to watch the players warm up, to beat the hassle of traffic and parking, and to enjoy all of the prematch festivities.
Food Vendors: This Friday we have Kathmandu MoMoCha serving up traditional Nepalese cuisine, Big Boys Filipino with delicious Filipino food, Mainstay Provisions with wraps and salads, and Bake Shop with baguette sandwiches, pretzels and more. Also don’t forget about the Pagliacci Pizza BOGO slice deal on game days! Just show your ticket at any Pagliacci location (excluding UW) and get a buy-one-get-one free slice deal!
Beer Garden: We’re proud to offer the Reuben’s Brews beer garden this season at Memorial Stadium, featuring Up The Bridges Pale Ale! The beer garden can only be accessed through the stadium but please note that the field is not visible from the garden. We understand this is disappointing and please trust that we’ve done everything possible to make the most of the situation. Seattle Public Schools does not allow alcohol on facility grounds. We recommend you arrive early to the stadium to grab a prematch brew or head to Reuben’s Brews Taproom in Ballard and catch the shuttle to the match.
Shuttle: This season we have a ticketed shuttle ride option for all matches this regular season at home! Tickets are now available for individual purchase for our shuttle program at an affordable rate of $8.50 per person round trip from Reuben’s Brews in Ballard to Memorial Stadium and back.
Free Ballard FC Tattoos: Yep, you read that right. We are excited to have local tattoo artist, Austin Harley, onsite on Friday to provide FREE tattoos with varying Ballard FC designs to choose from. This is first come first served and very limited so we highly recommend arriving early to secure your place in line!
Championship Banner Drop: Before kickoff we will be dropping our 2023 USL2 Championship banner! We need everyone in full voice for this huge moment so make sure you’re part of it!
Ballard Food Bank: This Friday’s featured item to bring and donate is Peanut Butter! Please consider bringing NEW jars of peanut butter and we will donate them to the Ballard Food Bank.
Transportation: Parking is extremely limited and is all paid. We highly recommend alternative forms of transportation. Please consider riding King County Metro on game day, where youth through age 18 always ride free! Check out transit mode in Google Maps, the TripPlanner.kingcounty.gov website, or an app like OneBusAway.
Live Stream: Can’t make it to the match? All Ballard FC home matches will be streamed to our YouTube channel. The stream for the match this Friday can be found HERE. Our live stream is proudly presented by Albert Lee Appliance, the official appliance expert in the Pacific Northwest, and proud sponsor of Ballard FC.
Don’t miss out on the action – Get your tickets for the Ballard FC home opener vs. Midlakes United here!
