East Carolina is the latest in-state school to add Charlotte to its future college football schedule.
The Pirates and 49ers have agreed to a two-year home-and-home series, with ECU traveling to Charlotte’s Jerry Richardson Stadium on Aug. 31, 2024, and Charlotte returning the favor at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium the following year in a season opener on Aug. 30.
Previously, North Carolina, Duke and Appalachian State have added scheduled games against the up-and-coming 49ers, a member of Conference USA currently in their fifth season of football competition,
Although the games that were announced Thursday will be the first ever between the schools on the gridiron, ECU and Charlotte have a well-established rivalry in other sports — including a 24-game men’s basketball series that began in 1981 and will be renewed on Dec. 18 at Minges Coliseum.
As is the case with other state schools, the football series with the 49ers will give the Pirates added exposure in a Charlotte market that is home to many of the state’s best recruits, along with approximately 10,000 ECU graduates.
“We have gratitude and value for that part of the state for both our recruiting efforts and outstanding support,” head coach Scottie Montgomery said. “Coach (Brad) Lambert has done a terrific job building (Charlotte’s) program from scratch and I’m excited about developing another in-state rivalry.”
The Pirates have played five previous games in Charlotte, winning three — including upsets of NC State in 1996 and Virginia Tech in 2008. ECU is scheduled to play Appalachian State at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 4, 2021.
Joining Charlotte on ECU’s 2024 nonconference schedule are Virginia Tech (Sept. 7), Appalachian State (Sept. 14) and Brigham Young (Oct. 19) while the 2024 slate also includes games against App State on Sept. 6 and Virginia Tech on Sept. 20.
Game times, ticket information and broadcast plans will be released at a later date.
