CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Year 3 in the QC. A new MLS season brings a new coach to Charlotte FC, but Dean Smith hopes to pick up where last year’s wild-card-earning team left off.
“I’m really looking forward to it. I can feel the fever gripping in the Uptown areas of Charlotte. People talking about the game and lots of people going. I’ve got to get 20-odd tickets myself. So, there’s an excitement growing and I’m looking forward to it.”
And that excitement is reaching a fever pitch in North End.
“Hey, look what we helped grow,” exclaims Matt Swift, Vice President of Mint City Collective, Charlotte F.C.’s premier supporters’ group.
You might say soccer runs in his blood – he showed us multiple Charlotte F.C. tattoos on his wrist and arms – and his group wants to share that passion with the fans at NoDa Brewing as they ring in the night before kickoff.
“It’s a good way for the community to get together and have some fun, and just celebrate again what we’ve built, and what we’re passionate about.”
For some, that passion is something to die for.
“We’re a soccer city,” a fan who identified himself as “La Muerte D.O.T. says, dressed in a Charlotte F.C.-theme calavera outfit.
“We’ve been waiting for a team for a while now, this is our third season. Last year we made playoffs, and for sure, this year we’re top 5.”
It’s a sentiment shared by most tonight – and by all come tomorrow.
“Football is life, and it’s awesome,” says Hector Cortes, affectionately known as “Sombrero Man” among his fellow fans.
“Every time we score a goal, it feels like we’re winning the World Cup. It’s that electric.”
“It’s electric,” Swift agrees.
“I mean, you can really feel the rhythm of it. Especially when the supporter groups get in there behind the goal in that section, they start drumming and singing. It starts building and building and building. I’m a fan of other sports, but there’s nothing like soccer.”
Charlotte FC begins its third season Saturday night at Bank of America as they take on New York City FC at 7:30.