Charlotte MLS Plans May Be In Jeopardy

CHARLOTTE, NC– A multi-million dollar proposal to attract a Major League Soccer team to Charlotte could be in jeopardy. Local leaders are calling the plan to pay for a new stadium “too rushed.”

That plan would put a 175-million dollar stadium on the site of Memorial Stadium in the Elizabeth neighborhood. An ownership group is promising to pick up half the cost, but the city and county would be on the hook for almost $44 million a piece.

Marcus Smith of Speedway Motorsports is leading the effort to get an MLS team. Charlotte is one of ten cities vying for two available franchises.

Smith must have a proposal into the league office by January 31st.

Several local leaders say that’s not enough time to vet the deal.

“This is a lot of money, and all of a sudden, at the last minute, we have to do this with like a gun to our head. We’ve got to do it fast, fast, fast,” said Pat Cotham.

“We were not allowed to decide ahead of time whether or not we even wanted to submit a proposal. And this is exactly the way we’ve been treated before,” said Patsy Kinsey.

County Commissioners are holding a public forum for feedback on Tuesday afternoon. It’s at three in the meeting chambers at the government center.

Commissioners are expected to vote on the stadium during their budget workshop on Thursday.