The Crown Complex is excited to announce the launch of the inaugural season of Fayetteville Liberty Professional Basketball at the Crown Arena in 2026. A new chapter in Fayetteville’s sports history is about to be written. The Fayetteville Liberty, Fayetteville’s first professional basketball franchise since the Fayetteville Patriots (NBA D-League), is preparing to launch its inaugural season as part of The Basketball League (TBL).
The Liberty will mark a milestone with their official press conference on Dec. 12, 2025, at the Alpha Academy at 2 p.m. The event will introduce the team to the city, highlight corporate partners and share the broader vision for the inaugural season.
The following day, Dec.13, 2025, the Liberty will host their final player combine and flagship tryout, where athletes from across the region will compete for a spot on the inaugural roster. This event is expected to draw scouts, media and fans alike, setting the stage for the Liberty’s first season.
The finalized roster will be unveiled in early 2026, with training camp and community activities leading up to the March 2026 season opener.
Tickets will be available at the Crown Box Office, Fort Bragg Leisure Travel Office, and online at Ticketmaster.com starting Oct. 31, 2025.
With the guiding vision of “Building Hope in the Community One Possession at a Time,” the Liberty are establishing themselves not only as a competitive professional basketball team but as a cornerstone of community engagement, youth empowerment and regional pride.
At the helm is Team Market Owner Robert L. Edwards Jr., a lifelong Fayetteville resident and entrepreneur who has worked tirelessly with his leadership team to ensure the Liberty is more than just another sports franchise.
“Our mission is bigger than basketball,” Edwards explained in a press release. “The Liberty represents the spirit of Fayetteville—the resilience, the culture, and the vision for what this city can be. We are here to win games, yes, but more importantly, to create opportunities, to inspire the next generation and to unite this community under one banner.”
The Liberty will play home games at the Crown Complex Arena. This marks a significant step for both the Crown Complex and the City of Fayetteville, expanding their portfolio of professional sports tenants alongside the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (MiLB) and Fayetteville Marksmen (hockey).
The addition of professional basketball helps further position Fayetteville as a regional hub for sports tourism and entertainment, creating new opportunities for local businesses, job growth and cultural visibility.
This is the first year of the Veteran Business Expo, and it grew out of Fayetteville PWC’s Economic Impact Program, which focuses on expanding access and opportunity in public-sector contracting while strengthening the local economy. It builds off th
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