After missing out on the playoffs in 2023, The Richmond Kickers are back in the postseason this year. As the No. 8 seed they will play at top-seeded Union Omaha on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

The regular season provided new signings, stadium renovations, big wins, and more. Here are some of the highlights:

Tops at the turnstiles

Each team had 15 guaranteed home games throughout the USL1 season. Although down from last year, The Kickers boasted the best average fan attendance in the league according to an article from Beyond The 90’. 

The Kickers averaged 4,515 fans a game and hosted 67,727 fans at their grounds throughout league play. The Kickers' single-game attendance did not fall below 3,551 fans, in contrast to 2023, where it did three separate times. This is the second consecutive season that the Kickers have ranked first in attendance. 

Stadium upgrades 

The Kickers unveiled the newest addition to their stadium: a massive video scoreboard. Debuting on August 22, 2024, the new scoreboard stretches 65.62 feet wide by 35.43 feet tall, 40 percent larger than the last scoreboard. The Kickers said that its 10 mm LED display and nearly 2.2 million pixels will offer fans “a top-flight viewing experience” for Kickers and Ivy games. 

“The big screen has been well received by fans who have clamored for an opportunity to see instant replays in-game,” said Nathan Heintschel, the team's director of communications. 

The Kickers will use the screen to host their first-ever movie night at City Stadium on Friday night, where fans can watch the 2017 film "Coco." The Kickers will also host a watch party for their playoff game on Sunday afternoon.

Biggest wins 

The Kickers enjoyed six league wins, two wins in the Jagermiester Cup, and two wins in the U.S. Open Cup. Their biggest league win came against Lexington SC, as the Kickers won 3-0 at home on Sept 21. However, the Kickers would grab their biggest victory in the U.S. Open Cup, beating the Maryland Bobcats 5-2 at City Stadium. 

Can The Kickers win it all? 

The Richmond Kickers will play Union Omaha away from home in the first round of the USL1 playoffs. The Kickers have played Omaha twice this season, losing 3-0 on Aug. 24. and drawing 0-0 on Oct. 5. 

Union Omaha goes into the game as the heavy favorites, having a better league record (15 wins, 3 draws, and 4 losses) compared to the Kickers (6 wins, 6 draws, and 10 losses). Omaha has also won four of their last five games while the Kickers have only won two of their last five.

If the Kickers were to win, they would play the winner of the Greenville Triumph SC vs One Knoxville SC game in the semifinals.