Queen City Hosts 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup

[gtxvideo vid=”75K44ez6″ playlist=”” pid=”Bbt3TRDe” thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/75K44ez6.jpg” vtitle=”gold cup”]

CHARLOTTE, NC — Thousands of fans packed Bank of America Stadium Wednesday night for a different type of football: the international soccer tournament known as the Gold Cup.

Charlotte is becoming a soccer destination, hosting several international matches.  That has some hoping we will get a major league soccer team.

While there are no plans for an expansion team in Charlotte right now, the city is at least on the radar.  Wednesday’s Gold Cup double-header just the latest example of why Charlotte would be attractive to the MLS.

The Queen City certainly showing its soccer support, and will be back in the international spotlight in just 10 days.  On July 25th, the Champions Cup comes to town, as Chelsea will face Paris Saint-Germain in a friendly match at Bank of America Stadium.

Area soccer fans are loving it, and want more of it in the future.

“Definitely, I think soccer’s really big in Charlotte and the surrounding areas,” said Kannapolis resident Hector Ramirez.  “We’re doing big things in the Club level.  We’ve got Charlotte Independence out here.  Soccer’s growing, and I think Charlotte needs to realize, and they have realized, and that’s why they keep coming back.”

Major League Soccer is expanding.  It could have 24 teams by 2018, including a new franchise in Atlanta.