Charlotte FC ditches PSLs
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Charlotte FC's 2026 home opener drew 35,611 fans. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios
Charlotte FC no longer requires a personal seat license (PSL) for season tickets, according to an email sent to season ticket holders Tuesday morning.
Why it matters: PSLs, a one-time seat licensing fee, have received constant backlash from fans since Charlotte FC became the first MLS club to implement them. The club marketed PSLs as a way to provide fans with a sense of ownership, and that the fee would help fund reinvestments in the stadium.
The big picture: Despite having among the strongest attendance in Major League Soccer, PSLs have proven a barrier to entry for some fans due to their additional cost.
- By eliminating PSLs, Charlotte FC executives are gambling that the club's attendance will climb back over 30,000 on a consistent basis.
By the numbers: Charlotte FC has roughly 15,000 season tickets. PSLs range from roughly $400-$900 with the average somewhere around $500-$550, Eric Sudol, Tepper Sports & Entertainment's chief revenue officer, told reporters Tuesday.
State of play: Overall, Charlotte FC season-ticket prices will drop by around 6% for the upcoming season. Season ticket renewals are expected to go out in mid-August. Not every seat will decrease.
- Supporters Group (SG) section season ticket holders (the most affordable season tickets in the stadium) will see a significant decrease in pricing. The SG section holds around 2,700 fans and will remain the current size.
- Current PSL owners will be credited what they have paid. If they have a remaining PSL balance, it will be cleared. The goal is to have PSLs credited in full by the 2028-2029 season, Sudol says.
How it works: 75% of PSL credits will go toward spring 2027 and 2027-2028 season ticket renewal (keep in mind MLS will have a modified season in 2027 as it adjusts to the international schedule).
- The remaining 25% will go toward 2028-2029 season ticket renewal.
Flashback: The Carolina Panthers, Charlotte FC's NFL sibling, introduced PSLs as a way to build the stadium in the 1990s. PSLs aren't going anywhere on the NFL side.
Between the lines: Charlotte FC's inaugural season in 2022 was a massive success in terms of community connection and game-day experience. After hosting multiple focus groups with fans last month and conducting supporter surveys, club executives hope to reconnect with fans who may have been turned off by PSLs.
- Charlotte FC's attendance at Bank of America Stadium dipped to 16% from 2023 and 2025, to 30,664 fans per game, and they currently average just above 28,000 fans per game, CBJ reported. CBJ first reported on the club's decision to ditch PSLs.
- The club hopes to ride the wave of interest generated by the World Cup taking place in North America this summer and Charlotte hosting the MLS All-Star Game later this month.
- A few thousand tickets remain for the All-Star Game, Sudol says. Only the lower bowl at Bank of America Stadium will be open for the All-Star Game, and the lower-bowl-only approach will remain for future MLS games.
Zoom out: Ditching PSLs is one of several ways the club plans to respond to fan concerns. For their upcoming match on July 22 vs. Atlanta, they'll have $1 hot dogs and $5 beers. They also plan to redefine their season ticket holder benefits package (details TBD).
Go deeper: Charlotte FC rolls out $26 tickets for 2026 season
What's next: Bank of America Stadium's fan-facing renovations will begin after the upcoming football season. The team's sales center near the stadium will open later this summer.