Tensions ran high this week as the city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg county moved closer and closer to approving the new $175 million MLS stadium contract, which would essentially replace Memorial Stadium and the Grady Cole Center in Elizabeth and bring a Major League Soccer team to our city for the first time in history.
The deal called for the city and county to each give $43.75 million to Marcus Smith and his team, with another $75 million being financed by the county, to be paid back over the next 25 years.
Proponents of the deal argued that joining the league would add Charlotte to a growing, international soccer community, increase development around the new stadium, and attract more talent into an increasingly globalized city.
ALERT: Tomorrow’s #CLTCC special meeting for public input on #MLS2CLT has been cancelled. @CLTMayor statement below. pic.twitter.com/0fMh3Famdz
— City of Charlotte (@CLTgov) January 26, 2017
“We are canceling the City Council Friday 4 p.m. meeting scheduled to discuss the MLS deal. Over the past several days, we have been discussing this opportunity, and while this is very promising, it is clear that we are not prepared to move forward at this time on the current soccer proposal.
“The Council is interested in a future opportunity to pursue Major League Soccer with more information and time to allow for interactive dialogue with the community and appropriate due diligence on our part.
“Any major decision we make needs to be considered as part of the bigger picture as we serve our entire community. Continued partnerships with sports positively impacts many of the initiatives we are working on, and we need to be diligent in planning a future where everyone wins. We very much look forward to continued discussions.”
How do you feel about the new stadium deal?
Do you think the city should have moved forward with it?
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