The Charlotte skyline stands behind the outfield wall at Truist Field. Friday night it does so again for the first time this season. First pitch is 7:04 p.m. The Durham Bulls are in town. The Charlotte Knights are back.
If you haven't been to a game in a while — or ever — here is what the record shows.
The Ballpark
Truist Field sits at 324 South Mint Street in Uptown, holds 10,200, and has no bad seats. The view from the lower bowl puts the Charlotte skyline directly above the batter's eye in center field. It opened in 2014 and is consistently ranked among the best minor league ballparks in the country.
Tickets are available at milb.com/charlotte-knights. Parking is not attached to the stadium — Uptown Charlotte is the situation, which means plan accordingly. The Mint Street garage runs under $15 and is the closest option. The 401 South Graham garage at the FNB Tower is a short walk east. Book either in advance for Opening Day.
The Opponent
The Durham Bulls are the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. They are perennial International League contenders, and Charlotte fans have reason to know the name: the last time the Knights won the IL championship, in 1999, they beat Durham in four games. The Knights will be here through Sunday.
Friday night is the one with the full ceremony, the full crowd, and the full Uptown energy. Saturday and Sunday are available if Friday sells out.
The Team Worth Watching
The Chicago White Sox are building, and a significant share of that build is in Charlotte right now.
Noah Schultz is a left-handed pitcher who leads the White Sox pitching pipeline. The expectation entering 2026 is that he begins the year in the Knights rotation and makes his major league debut before the season ends. Watch the starts. Tanner McDougal, 22 and on the 40-man roster, reached triple digits with his fastball during spring training in Arizona. Hagen Smith — the fifth overall pick in the 2024 draft — is also expected in the Charlotte rotation.
These are not guarantees. Triple-A rosters shift with every injury at the major league level. But if the White Sox are right about two or three of these arms, the 2026 Charlotte Knights will be worth remembering.
One Date to Mark Now
Oklahoma City is coming. The Comets — the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate — have never played in Charlotte. They will, June 9–14, in a six-game interleague series without precedent at Truist Field. Mark it.
What to Know Before You Go
The Knights have won two International League championships: 1993, when the team went 86–55 and third baseman Jim Thome won the league MVP before his Hall of Fame career began; and 1999, when they won the Wild Card at 82–62 and beat the same Durham Bulls they face Friday. This is their 12th season in Uptown.
The Charlotte Hornets are in the middle of their own playoff chase and the Checkers have made the playoffs seven straight years. Charlotte is having a spring. The ballpark is excellent. First pitch is 7:04 p.m. Friday.
Go.