Charleston has heard this story before. A pro football team is coming. Get excited. Then... nothing.
This time might be different.
Meet the South Carolina Seawolves — the founding team of the newly formed ApexPro Football League. Four teams. Four cities. Charleston goes first.
Co-founder Chad Hitchcock didn't hedge when the Post & Courier reached out. His response? "Yes. This is in motion."
Mark Your Calendar
The APFL is throwing a public launch party on February 27 at Union Station on Upper King Street. Logo reveal, details, the whole thing.
Can't make it? You'll want to try. Ticket buyers get early access to pre-register for player and cheerleader tryouts at a discount.
Games are expected to kick off in spring 2027 — timed deliberately to avoid competing with the NFL.
Home games will be played at The Citadel's Johnson Hagood Stadium.
But Wait — What's a Seawolf?
Fair question. Apparently it's the most-asked question Hitchcock gets.
Turns out, "seawolf" is an old-school word for pirate. Charleston's pirate history runs deep, and the founders wanted a name with roots — just not something too on-the-nose.
Honestly? It works.
This Isn't the Globetrotters
The APFL is leaning hard into fan experience — mascot battles, massive halftime shows, pre- and post-game parties, stadium buildouts, and evolving storylines that change game to game.
But Hitchcock was clear with the Post & Courier: the games are real.
"We have all four stadiums already secured," he said. The entertainment stays off the field. On the field, it's football — played under modified NCAA rules with shorter clocks and no fair catches on kickoffs to keep things moving.
"ApexPro Football League really started because we felt there was a gap in really the fan-immersive side of football," Hitchcock said.
The Honest Part
Hitchcock didn't oversell it. The league is still finalizing game dates, seeking investors, and opening tryouts this summer. SCAD students are building costumes and set pieces. Some pieces are still moving.
But the stadiums are secured. The cities are confirmed (Baton Rouge, Norfolk, and Long Island round out the league). And the office? It's right here — at Mount Pleasant's Harbor Entrepreneur Center.
"I know it's hard because Charleston and South Carolina have been waiting for a pro team," Hitchcock told the Post & Courier. "Everyone tries to bring something to the town, and it flops. But we are dedicated to making sure that this happens."
Charleston's heard that before. But this one feels different.
We're watching.
This is a summary of an article published in the Post & Courier. Click here if you'd like to read that article.
