Expected MLS announcement from Tepper, mayor set for Tuesday

Panthers owner David Tepper and Mayor Vi Lyles are expected to announce Tuesday morning that Charlotte has been awarded the 30th Major League Soccer team.

Tepper, Lyles and additional “special guests” are gathering at the Mint Museum Uptown at 10 a.m. for a “major announcement,” according to a press release Thursday from Tepper Sports and Entertainment.

The Charlotte City Council is willing to set aside about $110 million in tourism funds to help bring the 30th expansion team to Charlotte, according to a letter that Lyles had sent MLS Commissioner Don Garber in November.

In addition to the letter, which was publicly released Wednesday, city spokesperson Britt Clampitt also sent a permit showing an event would take place in uptown around Levine Avenue of the Arts between Monday and Tuesday near the museum.

A permit to park production trucks on that street has been issued to Vista Worldlink, a media company that has worked with MLS on other events.

Plans in the works

Tepper, a billionaire, has been leading the effort to bring a soccer team to the city. He’s expected to pay well over $200 million in an MLS expansion fee.

The team would play in the Panthers’ Bank of America Stadium, which both MLS officials and Tepper have said would need renovations before serving as home to a professional soccer team.

Those renovations would need to include outfitting for soccer camera angles, a center tunnel and new locker rooms, Tepper has told media previously.

A Panthers executive filed trademark applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for eight potential team names on Dec. 6.

Those potential names are: Charlotte FC, Charlotte Crown FC, Charlotte Fortune FC, Charlotte Monarchs FC, Charlotte Athletic FC, Charlotte Town FC, Carolina Gliders FC and All Carolina FC.

This story was originally published December 12, 2019 at 9:28 AM.