MLS in ‘very, very advanced discussions’ with Tepper for Charlotte team bid
Major League Soccer’s commissioner said Thursday the league is in “very, very advanced discussions” with Panthers owner David Tepper to bring an expansion team to Charlotte, although some issues need to be resolved before that can be finalized.
Commissioner Don Garber addressed reporters in New York during a break in the league’s Board of Governors meetings. He said the board authorized the MLS expansion committee to enter into final negotiations with Tepper, the billionaire who has sought to add a pro soccer team alongside his NFL team.
Garber said he is confident in Tepper and city leadership. “When David came in (to the board meeting) there was a great level of support for his presentation and for everything he hopes to achieve.”
Garber added, “We believe (Charlotte is) a growing city on the rise, and one that’s got so much opportunity for us to be able to continue to expand our league.” He cautioned, however, that “we’ve got issues that need to get resolved as it related to (Bank of America) stadium.”
Tepper has said the stadium will need renovations, including outfitting for soccer camera angles, a center tunnel and two new locker rooms, before it is ready to be home to a pro soccer team. The stadium opened in 1996 and is one of the NFL’s oldest.
Determining how much public money would be used to fix the stadium issues also has yet to be sorted out.
Panthers officials did not respond to requests from the Observer seeking comment about the MLS bid.
But Panthers President Tom Glick told WCNC TV on Thursday that ”We’ve had a good day today… We’re convinced (the bid) will be successful.”
Charlotte is competing with Las Vegas and Phoenix for the 30th team. St. Louis and Sacramento, Calif., were selected this year as the 28th and 29th expansion teams.
MLS had 24 teams competing this year, and three more teams are expected to begin competing in the next two years.
City leaders tight-lipped
It’s still not clear what Tepper or the city would pay to bring a team to Charlotte. The last two MLS expansion teams each paid an expansion fee of $200 million.
Charlotte leaders offered few details about any potential deal or official announcement about the expansion team Thursday.
“Any discussions about decisions that may be made at that (MLS board) meeting are premature at this time,” Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said in a statement.
City Council has not released how much it might pay for stadium renovations or other expansion-related costs.
Council members have appeared divided over how much money they are willing to spend on soccer.
For instance, James Mitchell, an at-large council member, said Charlotte is prepared to offer about $100 million, funded by revenue from hospitality and tourism taxes. But Julie Eiselt, the mayor pro tem, said that council members have not yet talked about specific funding levels.
City council members previously told the Observer they’d been expecting to prepare an incentive package tied to MLS expansion fees and Bank of America Stadium upgrades by the end of December.
But with only two meetings remaining this year — on Dec. 9 and 16 — it’s unclear whether they will be able to finish a deal with Tepper by that target date.
At-Large council member Dimple Ajmera said she is still waiting to review the city’s finances, including the tourism revenues generated by hotel and motel taxes.
“We have not been given full information, and that’s the challenge here,” Ajmera said Thursday.
Reporter Alaina Getzenberg contributed to this report
This story was originally published December 5, 2019 at 6:28 PM.
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