After Charlotte snags MLS team, hundreds of fans march and celebrate victorious bid
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Charlotte MLS expansion
Charlotte will become the host city for the 30th Major League Soccer team. David Tepper, the billionaire owner of the Carolina Panthers, has been instrumental in working to bring a team to the city. The team would play in Bank of America Stadium after renovations are made.
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Hundreds of boisterous soccer fans marched and chanted outside a south Charlotte brewery Tuesday night to celebrate the Queen City’s selection as Major League Soccer’s 30th franchise.
The most ardent supporters — 500 of them — left six party buses for an invite-only thank you party hosted by MLS at Brewers at 4001 Yancey off Old Pineville Road.
The group, known as Mint City Collective, includes such MLS Charlotte team devotees as Palmer Steele of Concord and Maria Francis of Charlotte, both of whom grew up playing soccer and have followed the sport all of their lives.
“CLT,” they and the rest of the fans chanted in their Mint City Collective fan group jerseys, each with “Day 0” printed on the backs. “C-H-A-R-L-O-T-T-E.”
“It’s going to be absolutely phenomenal, and this is day one,” Emerson Huston, a Mint City Collective member, told The Charlotte Observer of the support he expects for the team when it begins playing at Bank of America Stadium in 2021.
MLS made the announcement with Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper on Tuesday. Charlotte beat out Las Vegas and Phoenix for the team, with the City of Charlotte planning to spend $110 million in support of the team, The Observer reported.
Soon after the announcement, Huston was among 1,000 or so fans who paid a $50 deposit online for season tickets. MLS confirmed the number on Twitter.
“This is something we can stand together on and unite the city,” said Huston’s friend, Matthew Cirullo, referring to Charlotte’s diverse cultures and the sport followed by billions worldwide.
Tuesday morning, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles referred to the city’s NFL and NBA franchises and said, “We are a sports city.”
The new team doesn’t have a name yet, but a trademark application has been filed for eight possible team name, including Charlotte FC, Charlotte Crown FC and Charlotte Fortune FC, The Observer reported.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber told fans Tuesday morning, “We’re going to count on you when your team hits the field in 2021,” The Observer reported.
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