Charlotte FC launches reality show with the ultimate prize
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Charlotte FC crest. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios
A reality show winner will play for Charlotte FC in 2022.
The Major League Soccer expansion franchise will launch a reality series in collaboration with the league and MGM Television. Emmy Award-winning producer Mark Burnett and MGM Studios president Barry Poznick will lead the creative side.
Why it matters: The winner will earn one of the club’s 30 roster spots. Charlotte FC currently has seven players signed. Filming begins early next year leading up to the club’s inaugural season. Preseason begins in mid-January, with league play kicking off in late February/early March.
What’s next: Much of the project is still in preproduction, but here’s what we know.
- Filming is TBD.
- Working title: “Welcome to the team.”
- Where the series will stream/air is TBD.
- Number of players TBD, but an estimated 10-15 will compete on the show.
- Charlotte FC sporting director Zoran Krneta and his team will select the participants. No, this isn’t “American Idol.” You can’t audition.
- Players will be selected from across the globe.
- The series will provide 24/7 access to trialists.
- Judges: Krneta, club president Nick Kelly and a rotating panel of soccer legends and celebrity fans.
- A player will be eliminated at the end of each episode.
Fun fact: This is the second time Tepper Sports & Entertainment, which owns Charlotte FC and the Carolina Panthers, was the subject of a reality series. Amazon’s “All or Nothing” highlighted the Panthers in 2019.
What they’re saying: “At Charlotte FC, we’re very interested in providing soccer players across the world the opportunity to be part of a great organization where they can grow and develop as professionals,” club owner David Tepper said in a statement.