Galaxy spoil Charlotte FC’s home debut in front of record 74,479 fans
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte FC made a record-breaking home debut Saturday night, setting a Major League Soccer attendance mark of 74,479 in a 1-0 loss to the Galaxy.
Fans dressed in the team’s light blue colors and wearing FC Charlotte scarves celebrated the team’s first game at Bank of America Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers since 1996.
There were 69,522 there on Sept. 1, 1996, to watch Carolina’s first regular-season game — a 29-6 win over Atlanta. This long, anticipated MLS game shattered that mark.
Things didn’t go as well on the field for Charlotte FC, who fell as Galaxy substitute midfielder Efrain Alvarez struck a hard shot from outside the box into the upper right corner in the 77th minute.
Charlotte FC (0-2-0) had a chance to tie in the final minute of stoppage time, but Daniel Rios’ header close to the goal off a cross from Alan Franco was stopped by Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond.
The Galaxy have won both of their games to start the season by 1-0 scores.
Still, the loss didn’t dampen the crowd’s enthusiasm as they stood and cheered at the end, much the way they did at the start.
“Welcome to the largest party Charlotte has known,” Charlotte FC and Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper said to the crowd moments before kickoff.
MLS Commissioner Dan Garber called it a historic night for the league. He said the crowd showed “there’s no limit to where our league can go.”
Galaxy coach Greg Vanney had long thought North Carolina was a hotbed for soccer and that showed in this game.
“It’s no surprise there was a fan base so ready and so eager to show support,“ Vanney said. “Our job was to come here and be the spoilers of the whole thing so I’m happy for that.”
Meyer, a senior majoring in international relations, was found dead in an on-campus residence on Tuesday night, university officials said.
People lined up at the entrances about four hours before the match kicked off, eager to cheer for their hometown MLS club.
Even the signature Panthers statues outside the stadium had Charlotte FC scarves draped around their necks for the occasion.
“We’ve waited for this for a while,” said Lenny Romero, a Charlotte fan who wore a curly wig of Charlotte FC blue.
People in Charlotte gear packed parking lots around the stadium that usually only get filled for Panthers’ football.
Food carts and souvenir stands were everywhere with some fans even pulling out their cornhole boards for football-style tailgates.
The final attendance topped the old MLS high of 73,019 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium when the Atlanta United played the Portland Timbers for the MLS Cup in December 2018.
Atlanta’s building also had the previous top attendance for a regular-season match, 72,548 when United played the Galaxy in August 2019.
Tepper’s bid for an MLS franchise was approved in 2019 with plans to play in 2021. However, that was delayed a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The first-year club played its first match last week in Washington, falling to D.C. United 3-0.
The USWNT will play two April friendlies against Uzbekistan in April in Columbus, Ohio, and Chester, Pa.
The team made improvements of about $50 million or so to enhance the stadium for soccer. A new tunnel was added at midfield, along with soccer locker rooms, training facilities and a player lounge.
For several games, the stadium’s upper level will be closed to fans. Still, it would give Charlotte FC a capacity of about 38,000.
Tepper was on the field about an hour before the start, waving and pumping his fist to cheering, grateful fans.
