Traffic Sports USA announced today that they have acquired the rights to the Carolina RailHawks brand and that the RailHawks will compete in the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 2011 and beyond. Singh Holdings LLC, the investment vehicle of Cary resident Paul Singh will be a local minority partner of the team. Singh Holdings LLC was also a minority owner in the former ownership group led by Selby Wellman. The new ownership group acquired the rights to the Carolina RailHawks brand at public auction.
The team management will be led by new team President, Curt Johnson, a Raleigh native, former captain of Raleigh-based North Carolina State University, a product of local standout youth club, CASL, and former General Manager of the Kansas City Wizards where he led the Wizards to their only MLS Cup title. Johnson’s involvement with soccer in the United States dates back over two decades at all levels of the game. Martin Rennie, who successfully led the RailHawks to the playoffs each of the past two seasons, will lead the new team as Head Coach.
«Traffic Sports is excited about the new Carolina RailHawks. We believe that the Triangle area is a great market and that the Carolina RailHawks will be one of the model teams of the NASL,” said Enrique Sanz, Vice President of Traffic Sports. “We look forward to continuing the winning tradition of the RailHawks on the field and to taking the commercial operation to that same championship level. And with the hiring of Curt Johnson returning home to guide this team and Martin Rennie, considered one of the top young coaches in the United States, we believe we are well on our way to building an all-around championship team.”
“On behalf of the NASL, we are thankful and thrilled that Traffic and Singh Holdings have stepped up to continue professional soccer in the Triangle area. We were always confident that we would find a way to continue professional soccer in Carolina, especially considering their success on the field and the sponsorship support they have received. However the fact that they were able to acquire the RailHawks name in an auction this past weekend makes it even sweeter, It’s very fitting that we will officially launch the new NASL with the new Carolina RailHawks hosting a rematch of last year’s championship against the Puerto Rico Islanders, one of the top teams in the Concacaf region.”
A press conference is being scheduled and will be announced in the coming days.
The RailHawks’ season opener will take place on April 9 at 7:00PM and feature a rematch against 2010 League Champions, Puerto Rico Islanders. For schedule and ticket information visit carolinarailhawks.com or call 919-859-5425.
