Charlotte FC announces plan for new headquarters, training facility
The facility will open by spring 2023.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Charlotte FC reached an agreement with Levine Properties to create a permanent training facility and Charlotte headquarters.
The 52,000+ square-foot facility will be located at 8600 McAlpine Park Drive and feature four world-class fields.
The Club’s First Team is already practicing on two fields that Charlotte FC spent roughly $1 million dollars renovating.
It will also be the home to the Club’s First Team, MLS NEXT Pro, and Academy teams.
“A permanent training facility and business headquarters for Charlotte FC has been a priority for the Club since it was launched and we’re excited to reach an agreement to bring this to life,” said owner David Tepper. “The timeline for this project was crucial and we’re delighted to deliver a first-class facility to our players and staff in Spring 2023. This is an important milestone for our Club and reflects our commitment to continue investing in infrastructure that will allow Charlotte FC to be a leader in Major League Soccer both on and off the pitch.”
The project is privately funded.
This comes after Tepper Sports pulled out of plans at the old Eastland Mall site.
A spokesperson for Tepper Sports and Entertainment told WBTV that “after a great deal of consideration, the timeline for the Eastland project posed challenges that led us to research expedited alternatives.”
WBTV reached out to the city for a statement regarding the announcement, but did not receive a response.
City council member Tariq Bokhari represents District 6, where this new site is located.
In a statement, Bokhari told WBTV:
We have been focused on preparing for the future of District 6 for the last 5 years, and having the Charlotte FC HQ and training facilities - all in one place - is going to be an exciting feature of what we plan on being the economic and experiential heartbeat of our City. The Tepper Sports relationship with Charlotte is still in its infancy. They have a long term, strategic vision that will take time to unfold… but we already have a professional soccer team, investments in our football team, more concerts than we’ve ever had at our stadium… and today we celebrate our soccer HQ landing right here in D6. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
The new site is also near practice fields for soccer mission the Charlotte Eagles.
Cliff Wright, the executive director for soccer mission the Charlotte Eagles, says it’s a thrilling opportunity for kids in his program to be located just feet away from where the pros are practicing.
“The limiting factor for the growth of soccer in Charlotte is field space so by opening up this facility, they have an opportunity to really make a dent in that,” Wright said.
Charlotte FC teased a “wide selection of private and public programming” on their campus.
A full unveil, including the name, renderings, and more will be presented later this fall.
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