Charlotte's beloved Truist Field, known primarily for its baseball pedigree, is prepping for a wintry transformation, as it once again embraces the chill of ice hockey this November. According to QC News, Truist Field will kick off the festivities with the Light the Knights College Hockey Series, where college club teams will vie for dominance on a surface more accustomed to slides into base than slap shots.

The series, slated to begin on November 21 with a face-off between Duke University and Vanderbilt University, marks a continued commitment to a diversified sporting agenda at the venue, and with doors opening at 6 p.m. for a 7 p.m. game start, fans can immerse themselves in the rare spectacle of outdoor hockey action in the heart of Charlotte, and they'll have three nights in a row to get their fix, before the final game in January 2025 spices up the post-New Year lull. As Axios Charlotte reported, following the opener, the rink will host the UNC Charlotte 49ers against Appalachian State University on November 22, and NC State University squaring off with the University of South Carolina on November 23.

The series will wrap up with an early 2025 bout, inviting the University of North Carolina to lock sticks with Virginia Tech on January 4, adding just the right amount of post-holiday excitement for hockey enthusiasts. To sweeten the deal, the adjacent Light the Knights festival promises a winter wonderland from November 27 through January 3, complete with ice skating, snow tubing, and festive shopping opportunities, as mentioned by Axios Charlotte.

Last year, Truist Field witnessed a spectacular overtime victory during a similar matchup; the stakes and excitement for this year's games are aimed to match, if not eclipse, that energy, and Truist Field is looking to pack its stands once more with over 11,000 fans, the number that came to witness the Queen City Outdoor Classic between the Charlotte Checkers and Rochester Americans, as noted by QC News. Tickets for the marquee event between North Carolina and Virginia Tech are already on sale starting at $22.95, with availability for other games expected to follow suit soon.

For those marking their calendars, remember that gates will swing wide at 6 p.m. sharp, pucks will drop at 7—setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling chapter in the relatively short history of hockey at Truist Field; just make sure you're bundled up tight and ready to cheer, regardless of whether you're a die-hard puck head or a casually curious onlooker looking to indulge in the novelty of outdoor collegiate hockey action reported by WCCB Charlotte.