(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) -- As the Charlotte Knights embark on their fifth season at BB&T Ballpark in Uptown Charlotte, the team held a press conference on Tuesday, October 24th to announce a significant theme for the upcoming campaign. The 2018 season will mark Charlotte's 20th as the top affiliate of the Chicago White Sox and the Major League club will highlight the occasion by playing a 6:05 p.m. exhibition game against the Knights on Monday, March 26th at BB&T Ballpark in Uptown Charlotte. This will be the fourth exhibition between the two clubs in their history and the first since 2015.

As part of the team's homage to the White Sox, the Knights will celebrate their historic season with a special 20th Season Commemorative Logo, which was revealed to season membership holders, sponsors, and others at a Postseason Party earlier Tuesday night. A patch with the logo design will be featured on all home white jerseys for the 2018 season. In addition, the Knights will honor their 20-year affiliation with special promotions, giveaways, and appearances during the year. The team will also wear special on-field 20th Season jerseys on select nights throughout the year.





"We are looking forward to celebrating our great partnership with the White Sox in 2018," stated Dan Rajkowski, Knights Chief Operating Officer. "We are very pleased at the direction the organization continues to take with a talented crop of young players coming through Charlotte. This exhibition game will be a great way for our fans to welcome back some of the players who have called Charlotte home over the past few seasons and have now gone on to play for the White Sox. We're counting down the days to March 26th and the 2018 season."



The White Sox and Knights began their affiliation during the 1999 season when the two teams entered into a Player Development Contract. The affiliation, which is currently the fourth longest in the International League, runs through the 2020 season. Since 1999, the two teams have played three exhibition games, including the first-ever exhibition game at BB&T Ballpark on April 3rd, 2015. Over the course of the 20-year partnership, the Knights have earned a Governors' Cup championship (1999), and have promoted hundreds of players to Chicago over the years.



With the White Sox currently ranked as having one of the top farm systems in all of Major League Baseball, the Charlotte Knights boasted some of the game's most talented prospects throughout the 2017 season, including Yoán Moncada , Lucas Giolito , Reynaldo López , Carson Fulmer , and Zack Burdi . A total of 22 players were promoted from Charlotte to Chicago a season ago, and many more talented young prospects are on their way to Charlotte for the 2018 season and beyond.



"We are extremely excited to have the White Sox finish their 2018 exhibition schedule with a visit to BB&T Ballpark in Charlotte, one of the finest facilities in Minor League Baseball," said Chris Getz, White Sox Director of Player Development. "We are extremely proud of our relationship with the Knights, who have served as a fantastic partner for our organization. We are looking forward to visiting Uptown Charlotte next March to show the Knights fans how instrumental their team has been in the success of many of our young players."



Season memberships for the 2018 season at BB&T Ballpark are on sale now. Tickets for the White Sox exhibition game and all 2018 Charlotte Knights home games will go on sale at a later date. Season membership holders will have first priority at purchasing tickets to the 2018 exhibition game. For more information, please visit www.charlotteknights.com or contact the Knights Ticket Office by phone at 704-274-8282.

