Sounders will play in Carolina Challenge Cup preseason tournament

The Seattle Sounders will get their first taste of Southern cooking next season (no, Florida doesn't count), as they will participate in the Carolina Challenge Cup preseason tournament in Charleston, S.C. from Feb. 22-March 1. The Sounders will be joined by the USL-Pro's Charleston Battery, the Houston Dynamo and three-time winner D.C. United at Blackbaud Stadium, roundly considered one of the top lower-division facilities in the country.

The late end to the tournament likely means the MLS season will start at least a week later than it did in 2013.

Last year, the Sounders participated in their first preseason tournament, winning the Desert Diamond Cup in Tucson, Ariz. In previous years, the Sounders have traveled to Spain (2010) and Mexico (2012) for preseason.

The tournament is played in a round-robin format with each team playing a total of three games. The team with the most points at the end of the tournament is crowned the champion.

Tickets for tournament go on sale Nov. 11 and can be purchased through the Battery's website.

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