Get to Know the Charlotte Hounds
Photo: inlacrossewetrust.com
Since we are a Charlotte-based sports and entertainment media company, we love to cover Charlotte sports. We believe in supporting our local teams and trying to get as many local people as possible to do the same. Aside from the Hornets, Panthers, Knights, and Checkers, we wanted to really get to know another Charlotte sports team—the Charlotte Hounds.
The Charlotte Hounds are a major league lacrosse team founded in 2012 when the MLL (Major League Lacrosse) decided to expand the league by two teams. Along with Columbus, Ohio, Charlotte, North Carolina was selected to host a new franchise. With lacrosse being a growing sport within the United States, this granted an excellent opportunity for the city of Charlotte, and one that will pay dividends increasingly over the years as the sport continues to gain popularity.
Photo: charlottestories.com
Let’s start with the name. While the Charlotte Hounds sounds cool, there was reasoning behind choosing the name. If you aren’t aware, the official state dog of North Carolina is the Plott Hound (only one of four dog breeds native to the United States)—thus the Charlotte Hounds were born. The colors that represent the franchise are royal blue and tan, similar to the colors the NFL’s Rams wore while in St. Louis. The team plays its home games at the Charlotte-famous American Legion Memorial Stadium. Holding 17,000 seats, the stadium was first opened in 1936. It has hosted many Charlotte-based sports teams over the years and is set to host the American Independence (USL) soccer team beginning in 2021.
In their inaugural season, the Charlotte Hounds won 5 of their 14 games. In 2013 however, in just their second season, the Hounds clinched a playoff berth and made it all the way to the championship game, before losing a tough 10-9 game against the Chesapeake Bayhawks. Struggles ensued for the Hounds for several years before making it back to the playoffs in 2016. They haven’t been fortunate enough to make it back to the playoffs since, where only four teams compete each year at the end of the regular season. 2016 has been their best season to date, with an 8-6 overall record.
The MLL consists of nine teams and a 14-game schedule that runs throughout the summer from the end of May until the end of September. Week one will run from Friday, May 31 to Sunday, June 2 this season. The Hounds will open the season on the road against the Dallas Rattlers. Their first home game will be in week two on Saturday, June 8 against the Boston Cannons. To find out more information, visit the Charlotte Hounds website at http://www.charlottehounds.com/. Don’t forget to come out and support the Hounds this year once the summer rolls around and be part of a growing sport. Go Hounds!
Garett