Charlotte FC prepares for biggest match in club history
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Charlotte FC hosts its first home playoff match on Friday, Nov. 1. The club faces Orlando City in match two of the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.
Why it matters: Charlotte has not hosted a major league playoff game in nearly a decade, when the Charlotte Hornets hosted the Miami Heat in the NBA playoffs in 2016.
If you go: Tickets start at $20, and yes, the upper deck is open.
- Tailgating starts at 3pm at 703 McNinch St. Supporters will march to Bank of America Stadium, past Clutch and the Carolina Panthers' practice fields, up the greenway connector and around the stadium to the East Gate at 6:30pm.
- 40,000-50,000 fans are expected to attend the Friday night match, a club spokesperson tells Axios.
What they're saying: "Someone is going to remember, 'I was at the first home playoff game in Charlotte FC history,'" Charlotte FC president Joe LaBue tells Axios.
- LaBue wants to run into someone 25-30 years from now who remembers being at that game, he says.
State of play: Charlotte FC lost 2-0 in Orlando on Sunday during the first match of the best-of-three playoff series.
- Charlotte FC must win on Friday to keep their season alive and force game three, which would take place in Orlando on Nov. 9 at 6pm.
What we're watching: Charlotte FC will be without midfielder Pep Biel, who received a red card during Sunday's match in Orlando. The club unsuccessfully appealed the decision. Biel will miss Friday's match but will be eligible for game three.
- Charlotte FC head coach Dean Smith is considering midfielders Kerwin Vargas, Iuri Tavares and Jamie Paterson to step up in Biel's place.
The big picture: Smith told Axios at the start of the season that he wanted to create "holy grail" moments for Charlotte FC. Hosting their first home playoff match is certainly one of those moments.
Between the lines: Smith is Charlotte FC's third head coach in as many seasons, but after much trial and error, the club finally found the right fit. They're "thrilled with the job Dean has done," LaBue says.
- Smith took the club to the playoffs, their first winning season, scoring their first goal in a season opener and their first win in a season opener. Now it's time to see how far he can take them in the postseason.