Independence soccer team moving to Matthews from temporary complex at Ramblewood

The United Soccer League’s Charlotte Independence announced Wednesday that it is moving from a temporary stadium at Ramblewood Soccer Complex to the Sportsplex at Matthews, beginning June 17.

The team’s season begins in April and earlier games will be played at Ramblewood.

A previous plan had been for the Independence, which plays in the minor-league USL, to eventually move to a renovated Memorial Stadium, but that facility is central to a bid for a Major League Soccer franchise led by Charlotte Motor Speedway president Marcus Smith.

The Independence has been playing in a 4,200-seat temporary stadium at Ramblewood since 2015.

“It’s just really hard to do that year after year, re-permitting with the county and making them jump through a bunch of hoops,” said Independence president Jim McPhilliamy. “Especially now that our long-term prospects of playing at Memorial are questionable, at best.”

McPhilliamy is keeping a close eye on Smith’s MLS bid, which includes funding approval from Mecklenburg County for a new stadium where Memorial now sits, but no money (for now, at least) from the city. McPhilliamy’s original plan for the Independence was to move to a renovated Memorial Stadium and eventually make a bid of his own for an MLS franchise.

“This has put a two-year pause in our plans,” McPhilliamy said. “If (Smith’s bid) blows over, we’re ready to step back in.”

McPhilliamy said Major League Lacrosse’s Charlotte Hounds, of which he is also president, will continue to play in Memorial Stadium.

This story was originally published February 1, 2017 at 2:06 PM with the headline "Independence soccer team moving to Matthews from temporary complex at Ramblewood."