CARY N.C. – The Carolina RailHawks will host the Atlanta Silverbacks on April 14th at WakeMed Soccer Park as the home opener for the 2012 North American Soccer League Season.  The NASL announced Monday that the 25-week regular season will open on April 7th, highlighted by a matchup between the 2011 Regular Season Champion RailHawks and NASL Champion NSC Minnesota Stars at the Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, MN.  

 

“The RailHawks organization is excited to announce our home opener on April 14th,” said RailHawks President Curt Johnson.  “Our home opener and the exhibition match against the Vancouver Whitecaps on March 4th will bring a great opening to 2012 for our fans.  We are excited and ready to get back on the field.”

 

RailHawks season tickets for the 2012 season start as low as $119 and include a game ticket to RailHawks home matches including the exhibition against Major League Soccer’s Vancouver Whitecaps FC on March 4th at WakeMed Soccer Park.  Tickets for the Vancouver exhibition and NASL season opener can also be purchased as part of the RailHawks Holiday Pack.  Pricing for the Holiday Pack begins at $59 and includes a RailHawks winter fleece and winter hat.  To purchase season tickets and the holiday pack visit www.CarolinaRailHawks.com or call the Cruizers Box Office at 919-459-8144.

 

The NASL regular season will have the eight teams playing a 28 game schedule and will conclude the weekend of Sept 22-23. The playoff format for 2012 remains unchanged with the top six finishers at the end of the regular season qualifying for the playoffs. The top two teams will receive quarterfinal round byes, while the other four teams will play against each other in a pair of single leg quarterfinals the weekend of Sept 29-30. Those winners will advance to the semifinal series which will be contested over two legs against the top two finishers in the regular season. The NASL Championship Series will be a two leg affair beginning the weekend of October 20-21 with the final leg taking place the weekend of October 27-28. 

 

 

Home Openers for Each NASL Club:

 

Atlanta Silverbacks:                April 7th vs. San Antonio Scorpions FC

Carolina RailHawks:               April 14th vs. Atlanta Silverbacks

FC Edmonton:                        April 22nd vs. NSC Minnesota Stars

Fort Lauderdale Strikers:        April 7th vs. FC Edmonton

NSC Minnesota Stars:            April 7th vs. Carolina RailHawks

Puerto Rico Islanders:            April 7th vs. FC Tampa Bay

San Antonio Scorpions FC:    April 15th vs. Puerto Rico Islanders

FC Tampa Bay:                      April 14th vs. FC Edmonton