The Editor’s Desk

from Saathee Charlotte April 2022

Namaskar Y’all

Charlotte Football Club Kicks Off

The Editor’s Desk by Samir Shukla

The buzz was already in the air when we entered the light rail headed towards downtown at the station near University of North Carolina Charlotte. The cars filled up at each station and upon exiting the fully loaded train, a mass of people, many sporting their new colors, strolled toward Bank of America stadium in uptown Charlotte.

The several blocks surrounding the stadium were filled with a diverse and boisterous crowd as they began streaming into the stadium.

A new sports era kicked off on March 5, 2022, when the newest Major League Soccer team, Charlotte Football Club, played its first home game in the Queen City. Professional soccer had arrived in Charlotte and the Carolinas, beginning a new sports era. The match took place at BoFA Stadium, home of the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers’ owner David Tepper also owns Charlotte FC.

The air in the stadium was even more electric and buzzing with excitement, the newness. Charlotte wanted soccer and fans got it, all 74,479 paying fans along with stadium staff, media, and guests.

This was not only a record-breaking crowd for a single MLS match, but it was, so far, the 2nd largest soccer crowd in the world this year.

When the microphone held by the woman singing the national anthem malfunctioned, the crowd took over immediately, singing and finishing the anthem.

This was Charlotte FC’s second official game and their first in their hometown.

They lost 3-0 to Washington D.C. United in their first game a few days earlier.

Charlotte FC lost this evening 1-0 to the LA Galaxy, but that didn’t matter to the raucous and supportive crowd on this night. They were now fans, in the seats, standing, screaming, waving flags.

The expansion team was awarded to Charlotte two years ago. This historic, inaugural match will be remembered by those in attendance for years.