Gates reopen for Charlotte FC match after weather delay at Bank of America Stadium

Potentially thousands of Charlotte FC fans were shut out of Wednesday night’s match, forced to stand outside, as lightning and storms delayed kickoff at Bank of America Stadium.

Entry for the match against Chelsea FC was cut off for at least one hour. Around 50,000 fans were expected.

Gates finally opened at 7:55 p.m., and kickoff was moved to 8:35 p.m., Charlotte FC said in a tweet.

One fan tweeted: “Can we all just agree that closing the gates is not effective at getting people to shelter in place? @CharlotteFC @cltfcfantv #ForTheCrown”

WCNC chief meteorologist Brad Panovich responded to an image showing a mass of fans sequestered outdoors on an uptown street near the stadium, gathered under trees. He wrote: “Oh geez we have to figure out a better way one of those trees gets hit and 100s are hit.”

This is a developing story.

This story was originally published July 20, 2022 at 8:04 PM.

Anna Douglas

The Charlotte Observer

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Anna Douglas is The Charlotte Observer’s deputy managing editor and previously worked as an investigative reporter and news editor in the newsroom. Prior to joining the Observer, she worked as a local news reporter for The (Rock Hill) Herald and as a congressional correspondent in Washington, D.C., for McClatchy. Anna is a past recipient of the South Carolina Press Association’s Journalist of the Year award and the Charlotte Society of Professional Journalists’ Outstanding Journalism Award. She’s a South Carolina native, a graduate of Winthrop University, and a past fellow of the Dori Maynard Diversity Leadership Program, sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists. Anna has lived in Charlotte since May 2017.