Charlotteans care about soccer. But, do they care enough for Mecklenburg County to spend $43.75 million to help build a stadium?

On Jan. 31, the Major League Soccer expansion deadline closes. Prior to voting on approving its portion of a private-public collaboration, the county held a public hearing where 40 people signed up to speak for and against the endeavor.

“There needs to be clarity around the dollars used for this facility,” County Manager Dena Diorio said. “These are capital dollars, they are not operating dollars, so the money we are using for this facility would not be used to fund additional teachers or teacher raises, or other things included in our operating budget. I want that to be clear…no projects would be displaced in order to receive the desired outcome.”

Said Marcus Smith, Speedway Motorsports Inc.’s president and leader of the Charlotte MLS effort: “Charlotte has a fantastic history of investing in things that improve the quality of life in our community.”

For more over two and a half hours, people had three minutes each to share their thoughts for and against funding.

“I haven’t written something this important since my wedding vows, and I almost threw up and cried that day,” said Caleb Wyckoff, former operations manager for the USL Charlotte Independence franchise. “I have been heavily involved in the Charlotte soccer scene for the last seven years…I’m here today to urge you in voting for this project. Memorial Stadium is highly unused. To me, and many other people, it is an eyesore amongst many of our other fantastic infrastructures around the city.”

Memorial was used 12 times last year for events ranging from band competition to high school football games.

Said Independence defender and captain Bilal Duckett: “I can’t speak for the club – that’s not my place – so I’ll just share my experience. I’ve relocated to Charlotte, and I’ve chosen to make Charlotte my home, because of the game of soccer, and I’ve chosen to stay, because I believe in the city.”

Said Independence ticketholder Jesse Newsom, who spoke to the commissioners in July when the subject was first broached: “The county has a 16-acre parcel in a fantastic part of the city that’s valuable, but it’s not providing any beauty and it’s not providing any benefit to the community.”

Commissioner Bill James previously noted that Mecklenburg does have $8 million allocated to renovate Memorial, but it would not be enough to bring it up to contemporary entertainment facility standards.

“It’s not used and so therefore, it’s not maintained, and it’s not maintained so it’s not used,” Newsom said. “It’s in a vicious cycle of neglect.”

American Legion Memorial Stadium sits on county property. A major concern is how the county would pay for its portion of a proposed 20,000-seat facility that would cost an estimated $175 million to be funded 50-50 between the public and private, Diorio said. Of that amount, $87.5 million would come from the private ownership group with $12.5 million up front and $4.26 million in lease payments per year for 25 years. Mecklenburg and city of Charlotte would chip in $43.75 million each, with the county’s portion coming from capital funds. Charlotte’s share would come from a hotel-motel tax, which is restricted for tourism-related purposes.

“The county would build and own the stadium, and the team will operate, market, book, manage and maintain the facility, and cover all losses,” Diorio said. “The master lease would be for 25 years, with upgrades provided by the county at year 11 and at year 21 at an agreed upon level...A combined 20 rent-free days will be made available to the county and CRVA.”

Speakers voiced concerns the plan would only benefit the one percent—particularly the team’s owners.

“Tell billionaire Bruton [Smith] no,” teacher Jessica Miller said. “We have no funds for football. Instead, take this money that we are discussing right now and send it immediately to the [Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools] deferred maintenance funds, because those requests have already been delayed and those needs are urgent and now.”

Said Omar Kazzaz, chairman of the supply chain management program at Central Piedmont Community College: “If anybody wants to know how much business there would be, or how many people want to play soccer, all we have to do is go to Elon Park or any park after 5 p.m. One day you will see a bunch of Germans playing soccer. The next day you will see a bunch of Pakistanis playing soccer. The third day you will see a bunch of Lebonese people playing soccer. The fourth day you will see a bunch of Mexicans playing soccer. To me this is the greatest indication whether soccer will fly here or not…in terms of business, I heard what my fellow citizens said about the lack of business when you build the stadium. If you’re thinking only about the stadium itself, that’s one thing, but that’s not what brings the money. What brings the money is events after the fact…attracting top-notch flyers to relocate to Charlotte—whether it’s individuals or businesses…we did not become the second largest [banking center in America], because we are not spending money. We have to spend the money.”

Others voiced their concerns about a lack of acknowledgement to the stadium’s original purpose—honoring veterans.

“Honoring of the veterans will be funded by the team and county with involvement of the Elizabeth neighborhood as well as other nearby neighborhoods,” Diorio said. “Memorial Stadium would be demolished, and historic pieces of the site, such as the stone wall and ticket booths will be reused. Archiving the history of Memorial Stadium would be done, and a certificate of appropriateness would be received from the historic landmarks commission.”

Said Iraq war veteran Dave Dowell: “A new generation of veterans are asking you to recommit the same promise that your predecessors had—a renewed commitment that this stadium will serve as a lasting legacy to Mecklenburg County’s and North Carolina’s veterans.”

Said Newsom: “I walked around the stadium to see where was the memorial to the World War I veterans, and the folks who gave their lives in WWI, and I couldn’t find a memorial. I guess either the memorial is inside the stadium where people aren’t able to see it, or perhaps the stadium itself is the memorial.”

Related:

Mayor Roberts: 'We want input' on pro soccer stadium financing

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