MLS Tours City Of Charlotte, Attends Rally In Support Of Team

CHARLOTTE, NC– “I’m an MLS fan so to have a team here in my backyard would be awesome,” said Dilworth resident, David Lund.

Soccer fans rallied behind Major League Soccer at First Ward Park to show the city’s support. Notably missing during the MLS visit is county and city leaders who cancelled meetings with MLS President Mark Abbott.

“That’s the decision they have to make, we were asked to come here to learn about Charlotte and their interest in Major League soccer and we’ve had a very productive day and opportunity to do that,” said MLS President, Mark Abbott.

Spear-heading the effort is MLS4CLT President Marcus Smith who downplayed the cancelled meetings as well and says there’s interest from Charlotte’s business and soccer community, now they need the city’s commitment.

“The biggest opportunity is for city council to support building the stadium  using some of the tourism funds that are earmarked for building stadiums and arenas,” said Smith.

The city has said it is $14 million short of the $44 million MLS asked to build the new stadium,  which could be the deal breaker.

“You have to have a stadium to have a team, it’s not that we’re trying to threaten anybody or anything like that we’re simply saying the facts which is without a stadium you can’t have a team,” said Abbott.

Fans say they are all in and hope Charlotte gets picked out of the 12 vying for a new MLS team.

“It’s a growing sport and I think in the next 20 years this might be the next NFL,” said Cotswold resident, Dave Haire.