Friday, March 6, at the Crown Arena was nothing short of electric. The Fayetteville Liberty tipped off their inaugural season in The Basketball League with a 93–86 victory over the Raleigh Firebirds, and the energy inside the building was undeniable. The Hoke County High School Marching Band set the tone early, filling the arena with excitement as fans, sponsors, city and county officials, and community leaders packed the stands to witness the arrival of professional basketball—done right—in Fayetteville.
For those who have lived here long enough, the story of local sports teams is familiar. Over the past 40 years, we’ve seen team after team come and go—basketball, hockey, indoor football, you name it. Even the Fayetteville Patriots, our NBA Development League team, came in with promise in 2001 and folded by 2006. And the reason was always the same: they never truly connected with the heart of this community: Its people.
Enter Robert Edwards.
In January 2025, I sat down with Robert Edwards, a 17-year U.S. military veteran who founded the Fayetteville Liberty in December 2024. I remember that conversation vividly. I laid out the history—the pitfalls, the rabbit holes, the mistakes that had doomed so many teams before. And Robert listened. Not because he was worried, but because he was committed.
From the beginning, Edwards made it clear he wasn’t just building a basketball team. He was building an organization rooted in community engagement, youth development, values, and opportunity—a franchise that reflects the identity and spirit of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.
And he has delivered.
Robert Edwards and his team have honored every commitment they made to this community. Now it’s our turn. Fayetteville and Cumberland County residents must step up and support the Liberty. Edwards has given us something of quality, something that reflects positively on our community across the country. It’s up to us to sustain it.
Community Leaders Agree
Cumberland County Commission Chairman Kirk deViere, seated courtside with his wife Jenny and son Greyson, summed it up perfectly.
“The Fayetteville Liberty opening game was bigger than basketball. When Robert Edwards brought the Liberty to Cumberland County, he gave this community something powerful: a reason to come together, cheer together, and believe in what we are building here together. This game was not just the start of a season. It was the start of something that belongs to all of us.”
Also seated courtside and weighing in on the Fayetteville Liberty’s inaugural debut, representing the Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce was George Breece, Director Emeritus of the Chamber Board of Directors.
“Our community is very fortunate to have this Liberty team ownership whose focus is not just great basketball but community outreach. A good team, great fans on opening night, a great venue in the Crown Arena with a very supportive Crown management and staff. Now that’s a recipe for success in our Can Do County,” he said.
George is right about the Crown team. The Crown Complex has always taken risks to support local sports, often losing money in the process, because they understand how important a successful sports venue is to a thriving community. Crown General Manager Seth Benalt is fully committed to the Liberty because he knows professional basketball fills a major gap in our local entertainment landscape.
So What Now? Everyone who attended the March 6 game will tell you the same thing: it was fun, exciting, and just the beginning. But for this team to thrive, we must do our part. Partner. Sponsor. Buy a ticket. Bring a friend. Bring a group or just show up! The next home game is March 21 against the DMV Soldiers (not the Dept. of Motor Vehicles), a first-year team representing Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, and coached by Maryland Terrapins National Champion Byron Mouton.
This is our moment, Fayetteville. Robert Edwards has done his part. The team is doing theirs. Seth Benalt and the Crown Complex are doing theirs. The stage is set. Now it’s up to us. Follow the Fayetteville Liberty all season long in Up & Coming Weekly—the official newspaper of the Fayetteville Liberty. We couldn’t be prouder to support the Liberty in this community.
Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

(Photo courtesy of Fayetteville Liberty)