Report: MLS to announce Charlotte expansion Dec. 17

The North Carolina city would be the league’s 30th franchise

Following MLS Board of Governors meetings on Thursday afternoon in Brooklyn, N.Y., it has been reported that MLS will go ahead with the announcement of Charlotte as the league’s 30th franchise in the coming weeks.

Initially reported by Soc Takes, a press conference and event appears to be aimed to take place on Tuesday, Dec. 17 in Charlotte itself, with permits reportedly requested to shut down a section of South Tryon Street in front of the Mint Museum.

The news was quickly picked up and confirmed by multiple sources, confirming the announcement and date — though the exact location and status of the requested permit remains unconfirmed as of yet.

Additionally, The Athletic’s Sam Stejskal reported that David Tepper and Tom Glick, respectively owner and president of the Charlotte-based Carolina Panthers and backer of the Charlotte MLS bid, were seen happily shaking hands with MLS commissioner Don Garber after the meeting.

It has been previously reported from multiple outlets that a potential Charlotte MLS team would play at the Panthers’ current home at Bank of America Stadium. Tepper has also been in numerous negotiations with the city of Charlotte regarding stadium proposals.

A league spokesman told Erik Spanberg of the Charlotte Business Journal that Garber would address MLS’ expansion timeline at a press conference today at 4 p.m. ET, following the conclusion of the Board of Governors meeting.

The Charlotte franchise’s name, branding and start date have yet to be revealed or reported, but a glance at the current MLS expansion calendar provides hints at a 2021 start date — alongside previously announced Austin FC. That timeline would see MLS add two clubs each in 2020 (Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF), 2021 (Charlotte and Austin FC) and 2022 (Sacramento Republic FC and St. Louis). It also provides a hint at the possible future of Nashville SC, which will start play in the Western Conference in 2020 despite being located closer to many Eastern Conference clubs. The proposed timeline above would bring in two likely Western Conference clubs in 2022, providing an opportunity to allow Nashville to shift to the more logical Eastern Conference with regional southeast rivalries in Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando and Miami.

Follow Colton on Twitter: @cjcoreschi.

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