Charlotte’s MLS drive is taking a more aggressive approach to selling the market on soccer.

MLS4CLT, the ownership group looking to land an MLS) expansion franchise, launched the website www.MLS4CLT.com to rally support for owner Marcus Smith’s bid.

The site includes “Power the Pitch,” an invitation for community supporters to sign up as backers of the effort and provide a platform for their voices to be heard. Visitors can sign up for email alerts and a free gift. The site also hypes the virtues of brining MLS to Charlotte, such as millions in economic impact on the local economy and encourages fans to lobby political leaders to get behind the project.

“We’ve been doing a lot of work behind the scenes, and now we’re excited to really engage the community in our campaign,” said Smith, president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports Inc, which owns Charlotte Motor Speedway and several other racetracks around the country. “We’re urging people to visit www.MLS4CLT.com to join the movement, or to learn more about numerous ways an MLS club in Charlotte will benefit our region.”

Smith’s push for a team hinges on stadium financing. Mecklenburg County commissioners, which approved $43.75 million for demolition of Memorial Stadium and Grady Cole Center for a $175 million soccer-specific stadium, removed the item from the capital budget earlier this month. They will take up the matter Aug. 2. Charlotte City Council has yet to vote on whether it will participate through providing tourism-related funds earmarked for projects such as stadium construction. Smith went ahead with submitting a franchise bid prior to the Jan. 31 application deadline. The proposed county-owned stadium in the Elizabeth neighborhood would be managed by the MLS franchise and would be available to community use.

Charlotte is one of 12 cities in the running for an MLS team. Two franchises are expected to be awarded this year and would take the field in 2020. Two more are expected to be granted next year, bringing the league to 28 teams.

“As home to major league franchises like the Panthers and Hornets, the heart of NASCAR country and the ACC, and with the PGA Championship coming in August, adding Major League Soccer would cement Charlotte’s growing reputation as one America's premier sports cities,” Charlotte Sports Foundation Executive Director Will Webb said in a statement. “With thousands of young people moving to Charlotte each year and scores of leading corporations being headquartered here, the exposure of another major sports franchise would further demonstrate Charlotte as a world-class place to live, to do business, and to visit.”

Said Tom Murray, chief executive officer for the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority: “We’re confident that Charlotte would be a successful market for an MLS team and are excited about this opportunity. MLS would be a dynamic addition to Charlotte’s vibrant and ever-growing sports scene, which helps to support a $6.5 billion visitor economy annually that greatly enhances our city’s quality of life.”

Smith said the website launch coincides with MLS visits to the competing markets. The goal is to generate more community support in Charlotte.

“We have been thrilled with the reception our idea has received not just from soccer fans in the region, but the corporate community, civic leaders and others committed to the success and prosperity of Charlotte and the surrounding area,” he said. “MLS soccer will be a catalyst for so many positive things that will touch so many people, and we’re excited to engage our supporters in helping make this dream become a reality.”

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