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This summer Chapel Hill getting Manchester City on July 23 at Kenan Stadium playing a friendly against top Scottish club Celtic. More than 50,000 people are expected to arrive in Chapel Hill for the match. The teams will be playing at Kenan Stadium, and many fans from around the world are going to be descending on Franklin Street and the UNC campus.

We’re a civics blog with very little knowledge of international soccer, but we do know (and cover) public transportation. Match traffic is expected to be heavy from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.

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Our advice? Take the Tar Heel Express to the game.

Parking in and around Kenan Stadium on (the other) football game days is tight and expensive. It’s in the middle of a college campus. Many fans in Chapel Hill elect to take the Tar Heel Express, a shuttle bus run by Chapel Hill Transit.

What is the Tar Heel Express?

The Tar Heel Express is a shuttle bus operated by Chapel Hill Transit that operates during special events for the Town of Chapel Hill, and for events at UNC’s Kenan Stadium and the Dean Smith Center. It will be running for the Manchester City vs. Celtic FC match.

Do I have to pay in advance?

Tar Heel Express boarding passes are available on the Carolina Athletics website. No boarding passes are available for sale at park and ride locations on match day.

When does the shuttle start?

The Tar Heel Express will start running at 5 pm on July 23 and run until 45 minutes after the game. Buses are expected to depart every 10-15 minutes.

Where can I pick it up?

The busses start from the following locations

The pre-match drop-off and post-match pick-up location is along South Road in front of Carmichael Arena and Woollen Gym.

Is there a bag policy at Kenan Stadium

There sure is! Take a good luck at the UNC Clear Bag Policy so you are not disappointed at the gate

Will this make my life easier?

The folks at Chapel Hill Transit are seasoned veterans for high-traffic, high-profile events. take the stress out of getting to the pitch. Plus, if you choose to park in Southern Village – it’s free – you have a variety of great food and drink choices, just a short walk away from the shuttle lot.

Drinks:

For food, you have

For quicker, and less expensive food options, there is

What if I want to explore downtown Chapel Hill or Carrboro?

A free trolley run by the Town of Carrboro and the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau will continuously loop from Franklin and Henderson streets in Chapel Hill through Greensboro Street in Carrboro. The trolley will run on July 22, 23, and 24 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

No tickets or reservations are required – riders can hop on at any Chapel Hill Transit stop in downtown Chapel Hill or Carrboro. The route takes about 25 minutes to complete before the loop begins again. (Note: The trolley will not go directly to the soccer match at Kenan Stadium.) 

John Rees lives in Chapel Hill. He was, until very recently, a member of the Chapel Hill Planning Commission and former chair. He serves on the board of the Bicycle Alliance of Chapel Hill, and is also...