BREAKING NEWS: NSN to Produce Live Pre-Game and Post-Game Coverage of Flint City Bucks vs. Forward Madison FC Presented by Irene’s Craft Kitchen & Biergarten
- Jonathan Turner
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
GRAND BLANC, Mich. (NSN) — March 12, 2026 — National Soccer Network (NSN) will provide live pre-game and post-game coverage presented by Irene’s Craft Kitchen & Biergarten for the upcoming 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup First Round match between the Flint City Bucks and Forward Madison FC on Thursday, March 19 at Don Batchelor Stadium.
The live coverage will feature in-depth pregame analysis and postgame breakdown, including exclusive interviews with both teams’ head coaches, game highlights, and additional coverage from around the match as Flint City hosts a professional opponent in one of the country’s most historic soccer competitions.
Kickoff for the Open Cup match is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the 6,000-seat Don Batchelor Stadium in downtown Grand Blanc. The venue, which opened in 2023 through Grand Blanc Community Schools, will host its first-ever Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match.
Bucks Return to Open Cup Play
The Bucks accepted a U.S. Open Cup invitation for the first time since relocating to Genesee County in 2019. Flint City secured one of USL League Two’s nine automatic berths after winning the Great Lakes Division with a 9-3-0 record during the 2025 season, bypassing the Open Division qualifying rounds.
They will face Forward Madison FC, a professional club founded in 2019 and a founding member of USL League One. The Wisconsin-based side has competed in five consecutive U.S. Open Cups, winning each of its first-round matches and advancing to the third round twice.
The 2026 tournament includes 32 semi-professional and amateur Open Division teams, each matched against professional opposition in the opening round. Professional clubs come from the USL Championship, USL League One, and MLS NEXT Pro.
The furthest-advancing Open Division team will receive $50,000 in prize money and an automatic berth in the 2027 U.S. Open Cup. The second round will be played March 31 and April 1, with the third round scheduled for April 14 or 15.
The Bucks have applied to host all Open Cup matches, with potential later-round games returning to Atwood Stadium in downtown Flint.
A Historic Open Cup Resume
Flint City is among the most successful semi-professional clubs in U.S. Open Cup history. Since being founded in 1997 as the Mid-Michigan Bucks, the club has made 15 Open Cup appearances, playing 30 matches, including 22 at home.
The Bucks hold a tournament-record 10 wins over professional opponents, highlighted by two historic upsets. In 2000, they became the first Premier Development League team to defeat an MLS club with a 1–0 victory over the New England Revolution. In 2012, the Michigan Bucks defeated the Chicago Fire 3–2 in extra time, becoming the first semi-pro team in the modern era to defeat multiple MLS opponents.
About Irene’s Craft Kitchen & Biergarten
The pre-game and post-game coverage is presented by Irene’s Craft Kitchen & Biergarten, a Grand Blanc restaurant rooted in community, hospitality, and appreciation for the hardworking generations who helped build the country.
Inspired by the story of Irene — a spirited woman born to German immigrants known for her strong voice, love of powerful cars, and belief in hard work — the restaurant celebrates community with great food, drinks, and a welcoming space to gather.
For more information, visit https://www.irenesgb.com/.
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