MLS in renovated Knights Stadium?

[spankys bbq]

I highly doubt this sports market would have enough support for an MLS team to justify the renovations and upgrades in a stadium that is 20 miles or more from downtown. People will come out for an occasional game but filling a stadium enough to pay the costs associated with having an MLS team would be a whole different animal. With the way property taxes in NC and Meck Co are going, that location would be better served as a new housing development, or mixed-use development.

[Sepulgeek]

Originally Posted by GoPhils

I've never been to the current Knights stadium, but if it's not good enough for a minor league baseball team then why would it be good enough for a major league soccer team?

It's good enough for a baseball teams it just not centrally located. People want the stadium in Uptown so that it is closer to people who live up in the Lake Norman area, east out in University and Concord, and west closer to Gastonia. Last year, the wife and I went to watch the Kannapolis team play for the 4th due to it having fireworks and also being a lot closer to us in Concord.

Originally Posted by spankys bbq

I highly doubt this sports market would have enough support for an MLS team to justify the renovations and upgrades in a stadium that is 20 miles or more from downtown. People will come out for an occasional game but filling a stadium enough to pay the costs associated with having an MLS team would be a whole different animal. With the way property taxes in NC and Meck Co are going, that location would be better served as a new housing development, or mixed-use development.

Sadly, I agree. Atlanta will probably get a franchise before Charlotte. This would make sense to me. A larger population should mean more tickets sold on average.

From reading multiple articles, I highly doubt Charlotte will get an MLS franchise anytime soon. David Beckham has an option to buy a franchise after his 2 year contract is up. Plus, with the cost buy a franchise and the requirement to be able to build a stadium, is there anyone living in Charlotte that wants to put up the money? I would love to see a soccer stadium built at the UNCC campus that would be used both for UNCC matches and minor/major league soccer matches.

[Feltdesigner]

The field at CPCC is perfect for soccer matches but I don't think MLS would pick a city that didn't build a new stadium that's dedicated entirely to soccer.

[brokensky]

Originally Posted by coastalgirl

I would have much rather seen an MLS team uptown than minor league baseball. I don't think the rest of Charlotte would support that, though.

Hadn't thought about it but now that you have suggested it, I think that has real merit. Too bad no one cares what we think (who has the power to make it happen!)