Charlotte’s new MLS team eyes temporary practice fields. Here’s where they could go
Charlotte’s new Major League Soccer team may need temporary practice fields ahead of the team’s 2021 kick-off.
The team will have permanent practice fields and headquarters at the former Eastland Mall site, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles told MLS Commissioner Don Garber in a November letter.
Eastland developer Crosland Southeast expects the soccer fields will be complete by mid-2021, firm managing partner Tim Sittema told the Observer. That could be months after the team starts training.
Amid much fanfare in December, Garber announced that Charlotte won the league’s 30th team. Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper paid a hefty expansion fee of $300 million to $325 million to bring the expansion team to Charlotte, according to Garber.
Training will begin early next January before the March 2021 season start, Panthers spokesman Preston Edwards said.
The Charlotte MLS franchise is considering several options for temporary practice fields — including at UNC Charlotte, other local universities such as Winthrop University and Johnson C. Smith University, and soccer academies, a source with direct knowledge of the team’s plans said. The source asked not to be identified due to the ongoing negotiations.
A UNCC Board of Trustees committee was scheduled to discuss MLS temporary facilities Tuesday, but those plans were later removed from the agenda.
UNCC spokeswoman Buffie Stephens confirmed the university has been speaking with Charlotte MLS leaders about a practice site.
“We have had preliminary conversations with the leaders of Charlotte’s new MLS club as they explore multiple sites throughout the community for a temporary practice facility,” Stephens said in an email. “However, since no final decisions have been made, it was premature to bring any discussion before the Board of Trustees.”
Revitalizing Eastland
Crosland Southeast expects to begin construction at Eastland before the end of the year, Sittema said. The soccer facilities are part of a plan to revitalize the area, with plans for several hundred homes and townhouses, open space, shops and restaurants.
In the mayor’s November letter, Lyles detailed plans to set aside $100 million in hospitality funds to support the team in that letter.
MLS team and Panthers owner David Tepper has said he expects most of the public money will go toward developing the Eastland site, not upgrades at Bank of America stadium, home of the Panthers and the MLS franchise.
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