Charlotte
Charlotte FC is an American professional soccer club based in Charlotte, North Carolina, founded in 2019 and beginning play in the 2022 MLS season. The club competes in Major League Soccer as a member of the Eastern Conference and plays at Bank of America Stadium with a reduced capacity of 38,000 for most matches. Owned by David Tepper, Charlotte FC was awarded as the league's 28th franchise with an expansion fee of approximately $325 million. In their inaugural 2022 season, the club finished ninth in the Eastern Conference and set attendance records, including the largest single-match crowd in MLS history at the time with 74,479 spectators for their home debut.
History
Overview
General information about the club
Charlotte FC is owned by billionaire hedge fund manager David Tepper, who also owns the NFL's Carolina Panthers. The club was officially awarded to Charlotte by MLS on December 17, 2019, with an expansion fee reported to be near $325 million. The team shares Bank of America Stadium with the Panthers, with stadium capacity reduced to 38,000 seats for most soccer matches. Zoran Krneta serves as the club's sporting director, while Dean Smith, former manager of Aston Villa F.C., was announced as the team's third head coach in December 2023.
Most recent season and achievements
Charlotte FC's inaugural 2022 season saw them finish ninth in the Eastern Conference with 13 wins, 18 losses, and 3 draws, missing the playoffs by one position. The club drew an average attendance of 35,260 per match, the second-highest figure in MLS behind Atlanta United FC. Their home debut against LA Galaxy on March 5, 2022, attracted 74,479 spectators, setting what was then the largest single-match crowd in MLS history. The team's first goal was scored by Adam Armour on March 13, and their first win came a week later against New England Revolution.
History
Early years
The Charlotte area has a rich soccer history dating back to the early 1980s with the Carolina Lightnin', who won the American Soccer League championship in 1981 in front of 20,163 people. After the league folded in 1983, professional soccer returned with the Charlotte Eagles in 1991. Charlotte was initially considered for MLS membership in 1994 and was named as a potential expansion city in 1996 and 1998, but was passed over each time. The Charlotte Independence was founded in 2014, replacing the Eagles in the second division.
Successful period
David Tepper's acquisition of the Carolina Panthers in July 2018 marked the beginning of Charlotte's successful MLS expansion bid. With Tom Glick, formerly of Manchester City F.C., leading the effort, Tepper presented a formal expansion bid in July 2019. The Charlotte City Council approved $110 million in stadium and franchise funding in late November 2019, and MLS commissioner Don Garber named Charlotte as the frontrunner for the 30th team slot. The expansion was officially awarded on December 17, 2019, with the team selling 7,000 season ticket deposits in the first 24 hours.
Crisis and recovery
The club faced early challenges when their debut was delayed from 2021 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During their inaugural season, head coach Miguel Ángel Ramírez was fired on May 31, 2022, after 14 league matches due to conflicts with the front office. Assistant coach Christian Lattanzio was named interim head coach and later signed as permanent head coach through 2024. The team struggled initially but remained in playoff contention until the penultimate matchday of the season.
Current period
Following Lattanzio's departure in November 2023, Dean Smith was appointed as the club's third head coach in December 2023. The club has established its permanent training facility at the Atrium Health Performance Park, which opened in August 2023. Charlotte FC operates Crown Legacy FC as their reserve team in MLS Next Pro, replacing their previous affiliation with Charlotte Independence. The club has also developed a youth academy system with squads at multiple age levels.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
Charlotte FC has not yet won any major domestic trophies, having completed only their inaugural 2022 season. The club was eliminated from the 2022 U.S. Open Cup in the round of 16. Their best league finish to date is ninth place in the Eastern Conference during their inaugural season.
Continental and global competitions
As a new franchise that began play in 2022, Charlotte FC has not yet participated in continental competitions such as the CONCACAF Champions League. The club played their first international friendly on July 20, 2022, against England's Chelsea, which ended 1–1 after regulation time with Charlotte FC winning 5–3 in a penalty shootout.
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
The club's crest was designed by Doubleday & Cartwright and consists of a black roundel with a Process Blue center, the same shade used by the Carolina Panthers. The coin-shaped design and "Minted 2022" reference Charlotte's banking industry and the historic Charlotte Mint, the first U.S. Mint branch. At the center is a four-pointed crown, referencing the four wards of Uptown Charlotte and the city's nickname "Queen City," honoring Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
Traditional home and away kits colors
Charlotte FC's primary jersey, the "Carolina Kit," is primarily blue with white sleeves and darker blue stripes around the neck and sleeve cuffs, featuring outlines of North Carolina and South Carolina. The secondary "Crown Jewel" jersey, introduced for the 2023 season, is primarily purple with blue highlights and pink stripes as an homage to Queen Charlotte. The club previously used a black "Newly Minted" community kit with mint-colored highlights that included a patterned coin edge design.
Traditional club anthem
The source material does not provide information about a traditional club anthem for Charlotte FC.
Traditional Rivals
The source material does not provide specific information about traditional rivals for Charlotte FC, as the club is still in its early years of existence having only begun play in 2022.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Sponsors
Ally Financial signed a multi-year kit sponsorship agreement in July 2019. Centene Corporation, a health insurance company, serves as the sleeve sponsor with a deal announced in October 2021 that includes funding for 1,900 personal seat licenses and community programs in the Charlotte area.
Nicknames
The team is sometimes referred to as "The Crown" due to its crest design featuring a four-pointed crown. This nickname was incorporated into their affiliated reserve team, Crown Legacy FC. The club's official mascot is Sir Minty, an anthropomorphic soccer ball wearing a crown, cape, and oversized silver chain.
Ownership and finances
David Tepper, with an estimated net worth of $12 billion, owns Charlotte FC and was the wealthiest owner in the NFL at the time of the club's founding. According to a FIFA report, Charlotte FC spent the most in transfer fees of any club in the CONCACAF region in 2022. The expansion fee paid by Tepper was approximately $325 million, representing a 62.5 percent increase from previous expansion fees.
Traditions and culture
Charlotte FC has five officially recognized supporters groups including Mint City Collective, Southbound and Crown, Uptown Ultras, Carolina Hooliganz, and Blue Furia. Before kickoff, fans perform "the Poznań" to the Farruko song "Pepas." After every home win, the man of the match is crowned by the supporters section, and a local celebrity is "crowned" as the "monarch" of each match.
Stadium
Charlotte FC plays at Bank of America Stadium, a 74,867-seat venue shared with the Carolina Panthers. For most matches, capacity is capped at 38,000 seats using only the lower bowl and club sections. A $50 million renovation completed in early 2022 added dedicated soccer facilities including locker rooms, training rooms, and a player tunnel at midfield. The grass surface was replaced with FieldTurf in 2021, and the club uses personal seat licenses for season tickets in most sections.
Charlotte
Club Information
Official Name
Charlotte
Short Name
CHL
Tactical Formation
4-3-3
Stadium Information
Stadium Name
Bank of America Stadium
Capacity
76.867
City
Charlotte, Mỹ
Surface
artificial turf
Key Personnel
Captain
Ashley Westwood
Captain's Stats
174cm, 80kg
Head Coach
Dean Smith
Head Coach Age
55 Age
Coach Nationality
GB
Coach Contract
12/12/2023 - 31/12/2027
Recent Honours
| Season | Competition | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Carolina Challenge Cup | 🏆 2 |
Current Season Stats
| Competition | Rank | Matches | W-D-L | Points |
|---|
Goal Statistics
Major League Soccer (USA)
24 Scored - 23 Conceded
Major League Soccer (USA)
55 Scored - 46 Conceded
Leagues Cup (Leagues)
5 Scored - 6 Conceded
Major League Soccer (USA)
46 Scored - 37 Conceded
Leagues Cup (Leagues)
0 Scored - 1 Conceded