The 2011 NASL season is set to get underway on Saturday when the RailHawks play host to the Puerto Rico Islanders at WakeMed Soccer Park at 7 p.m.

While RailHawks supporters will notice a number of new faces on the field, there are also a number of new events happening on gameday that all fans are encouraged to participate in.

Saturday’s season opener will be the Hilton Garden Inn Durham Southpoint Community Shield Match. Proceeds from the game will help fund the RailHawks’ community outreach efforts. The club has already schedule more than 150 community appearances for the upcoming season.

The organization encourages fans to purchase their tickets in advance and arrive early to WakeMed Soccer Park. Tickets can be purchased at CarolinaRailHawks.com, by calling the ticket office at 859-5425 or by visiting the ticket office 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. On gameday, the ticket office opens at 10 a.m.

The parking lots open at 5 p.m. for tailgating. If you’re looking for a group to tailgate with, stop by the Triangle Soccer Fanatics tailgate. They will be set up by the small grove of trees near the statue across from Field 4. Their tailgate is a potluck, and some of the group’s homebrewers will be sharing a batch of their finest ales. Click here for additional information on the TSF tailgate.

Stadium gates will open at 6 p.m.

Thirty minutes before kickoff, join up with your fellow supporters for the inaugural Hawk Walk. Supporters will meet at the statue across from Field 4 and march into the stadium, beating drums and chanting. To give you an idea of what we’re after, check out this video from the Seattle Sounders.

When the final whistle blows, your night with the RailHawks doesn’t have to end.

The BrickHouse Sports Pub is the Official Postgame Sports Pub of the 2011 Carolina RailHawks. Located at 3801 Hillsborough St, the BrickHouse is a five-minute drive from WakeMed Soccer Park. After every home match in 2011, all RailHawks players and coaches will head to the BrickHouse for their postgame meal and meet-and-greet with supporters. RailHawks fans will receive $3 off any purchase when they redeem their game ticket at the Brickhouse (that offer is limited to one ticket per person and is only valid on the night of the game). The Brickhouse features a full-service menu of American favorites, has more than 40 beers on tap, 8 120-inch projection screen TVs and more than 30 plasmas/LCD screens. There are also indoor and outdoor cornhole boards, pool tables, dart boards and Nintendo Wii.

So come early, stay late and don’t miss a minute of what’s sure to be another record-setting RailHawks season.