5 reasons Major League Soccer is the biggest announcement of the year in Charlotte

It’s official.

With significant fanfare on Tuesday at the Mint Museum uptown, Major League Soccer (MLS) Commissioner Dan Garber announced Charlotte will be awarded the 30th club.

“Today is a historic day for the Queen City,” Garber as he stood at the podium. “It is my pleasure to welcome Charlotte to the MLS.”

Here are the top 5 reasons this is the greatest announcement in soccer this year:

(1) Soccer is big business

Economic impact figures for Charlotte are still not known at this point, but it’s big business. While this number is disputed, officials in Sacramento said its new team would generate a $1.25 billion economic impact, creating more than 1,700 jobs.

“The money invested into the stadium is only going to an asset that has generated a lot of money to the hospitality industry,” said Mohammad Jenatian, president of the Greater Charlotte Hospitality and Tourism Alliance.

This is coming from a group that represents the industry paying for tax for the $110 million investment from the city of Charlotte to help land the new MLS team.

“We have a lot of great things we want to do in Charlotte,” said new franchise owner, David Tepper.

(2) Multiple developments, especially in East Charlotte

During post news conference interviews, Tepper announced his intentions to bring a major new entertainment district surrounding Bank of America Stadium.

“We’re talking Broadway in Charlotte with another music venue,” Tepper said.

Tepper later added most of the investment being made by the city would actually go to the team’s new headquarters in East Charlotte, not the stadium itself. The new headquarters would be located at the old Eastland Mall site, which is currently owned by the city. Tepper mentioned this project would be as big as partners were willing to make it.

“We’re going to put Eastland back on the tax rolls,” said Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. “I’m so excited for the East side.”

The city purchased the mall nearly a decade ago and spent years and hundreds of thousands of dollars investing in redevelopment proposals.

“Just to get something down at Eastland is a huge return on investment,” said council member Malcolm Graham.

(3) Soccer puts Charlotte on the world stage

“Soccer is the world’s game,” said Mint City Collective (MCC) President Jay Landskroener. “It puts Charlotte on a bigger map than the Panthers or Hornets.” MCC is a group formed by the founders of Roaring Riot, a fan based group supporting the Panthers.

Charlotte is home to hundreds of international companies, especially from Germany and China. The main marketing tool for recruitment officials is the American Airlines hub at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

The city hosted several events over the years that gave it international exposure, including a Final Four and PGA Championship. Soccer provides an opportunity to attract an international crowd multiple times a year.

“When you think of a worldwide market, soccer is global. We are just going international with our sports,” Lyles said.

The hospitality industry sees this as another major opportunity.

“Soccer puts you on the table, internationally,” Jenatian said.

(4) Unite the fans

Soccer is seeing tremendous growth in millennial and Hispanic populations. Garber mentioned the growth of both of those groups in Charlotte as a reason for expanding here.

“Panthers and Hornets compete with fans of other teams that move to the area. This team can unite everyone in that bucket,” posted the author of @QueenCityFC on Twitter.

Unity is a major reason fans say they really wanted the team.

“Soccer transcends economic, racial and political statuses as a global game. We now have the chance to unite so many parts of Charlotte with this once in a generation opportunity,” said Dave Dowell, co-founder of the Queen’s Firm, an MLS support group in Charlotte founded in 2017.

The owner expects the city to unify behind this new team, especially against rivals.

“Charlotte is the hot city. Screw that other hot city,” shouted Tepper during the news conference. “We’re going to have a hell of a rivalry (with Atlanta United FC).”

Dozens of Mint City Collective fans stood on the balconies during the news conference shouting, chanting and even booing at one point.

“I mentioned Atlanta and we had people booing in the rafters,” Garber said. “That was not expected.”

(5) Soccer is fun-fest

Tepper mentioned several times making soccer matches more than just a game. Beyond the entertainment district, he wants to create an experience for fans.

Unlike football, basketball and especially baseball where games could go well beyond three hours, soccer is limited to two hours. Fans say that creates a better experience.

“Games are just big ‘ol parties. It’s the most fun you can have out of any sporting event. Period,” soccer fan Michael Covil said.

The sport boasts boisterous crowds at many of its stadiums, which many say enhances the overall experience.

Tepper promised, “We are going to make Charlotte rock on Saturday nights.”

The team will start playing at Bank of America Stadium in 2021.

This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 1:25 PM.