Charlotte MLS Inaugural Season Delayed Until 2022

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Major League Soccer has announced that they will be shifting the timeline of all expansion teams back one year due to COVID-19.

This means the Charlotte MLS team, which was expected to begin play in 2021, will now be moved to 2022.

"We have always taken a thoughtful and strategic approach to our expansion planning and have delivered successful launches for every new club," said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. "It is important for each club to take the necessary time to launch their inaugural MLS seasons the way their fans and communities deserve. With the extra year to make up for what has been a challenging 2020, these teams will be well-positioned for their debuts and for long-term success."

The city of Charlotte, N.C. was awarded an expansion franchise by the MLS on Dec. 17, 2019, and will release the official team name and brand on July 22.

"We are committed to bringing Major League Soccer to our city and region," Charlotte MLS Owner David Tepper said. "The party's still on! We are just delaying it a bit to ensure we have the best experience for our fans when we do start playing."

Tepper purchased the team for a reported $325 million entry fee.

Charlotte was one of four teams that were awarded, expansion teams. Austin, TX will now join in 2021, and Sacramento and St. Louis will join 2023.

Club operations will continue to move forward in preparation for the 2022 season.

"After a lot of discussion with Major League Soccer, we are confident it is in the best interest of our club and our supporters to take additional time to ensure a successful inaugural season," said Tom Glick, President of Tepper Sports & Entertainment. "When we were awarded the team in December, we knew we were on an extremely tight timeline to begin play in 2021, but we were ready to meet that challenge. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted several of our essential initiatives. We have made huge progress in the last few months but having additional time to build is important.

The team signed Spanish midfielder Sergio Ruiz, their first player last week.

The club remains on schedule to sign additional players when the transfer window opens later this summer.

Supporters who placed ticket deposits for the inaugural season will be allowed to select their seats within the bowl at Bank of America Stadium this fall. The Charlotte MLS youth academy, launched in March, will operate as scheduled with training beginning in July.