Charlotte Eagles stadium?

Discussion in 'United Soccer Leagues' started by tampasteve1, Oct 5, 2012.

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  1. tampasteve1

    tampasteve1 Member

    Tampa Bay Rowdies and Strikers
    Jul 21, 2009
    Tampa
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I am new to the board and did a search, but could not find much information (or really a lot on the Eagles at all). I see that the Eagles are still playing in a school stadium, is there any chance of getting into a different stadium? Maybe there is not enough attendees to justify it?

    Steve
     
  2. NC Soccer United

    NC Soccer United BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Jan 25, 2011
    Club:
    Flamengo Rio Janeiro
    Nupe. No alcohol sales basically kill the potential revenue and tax streams for a new stadium.
     
  3. ButlerBob

    ButlerBob Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 13, 2001
    Evanston, IL
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think a new stadium was approved in Mathews NC. However, with the down turn in the economy they don't have funds to do it.

    I think would like to move into new stadium. But they aren't really set up to fund something like that. Maybe they could talk a company like Chick fil a in funding it and getting title sponsorship. I could see some cynergy there. And really it doesn't have to be huge. Even 3 - 4 k would easily fit their current avg and provide room for growth.
     
  4. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Perhaps some unfortunate synergy.
     
  5. CHHSfan

    CHHSfan Member

    Oct 30, 2010
    Chapel Hill
    Club:
    Carolina Railhawks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think that a christian group playing at a christian high school with no intentions of beer or profit works out pretty well. They probably aren't too concerned with it.
     
  6. CCSUltra

    CCSUltra Member+

    Nov 18, 2008
    Cleveland
    Club:
    Hertha BSC Berlin
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This.

    They are more concerned with the missionary aspect of the organization.
     
  7. Mikeyratt

    Mikeyratt Member

    Jan 9, 2002
    Richmond, Va
    They DO needs to find a different place to play though (IMHO) lots of rain and even sink holes at Charlotte Christian school were really an embarrassment to them and the League last summer... and it takes a lot to embarrass the USL these days!
     
  8. JBG - Bribe Taker

    Mar 17, 2000
    Mt. Pleasant, SC
    Club:
    Charleston
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Don't they still rotate their home matches around several sites? Having just 1 site as your home field would be an improvement. One year, they played some (all?) their matches as UNCC, I'm sure that was a pretty nice place. But you're right, as much as fans may want a SSS to call their own, if they found several $mil in their pocket, they would choose to spend it on things other than a stadium. They've been around for 20 years, longer than MLS clubs and most every other soccer club in the US so their business plan seems to be working for them.
     
    athletics68 and wellington repped this.
  9. DevGrousis

    DevGrousis New Member

    Jan 23, 2012
    Club:
    AC Milan
    I played there last season, and I can say this: They are firstly concerned with the ministry (take it or leave it, thats just how it goes w/ the Eagles), and I can say they do a really good job at community out reach. Its much more than just a soccer club.

    Now onto the business about the stadium. In Matthews, NC (which is south of Charlotte proper), they have most of the funding put together for a very large complex w/ a small stadium as the main pitch (I may be wrong) where finals will be held etc. It is not an Eagles project, it is a local club project, which i'm sure the Eagles have a hand in. From what i've heard from the coaches mouth directly, there is interest from large pockets that want to get involved, but the organization is strict about its guidelines, and wont allow for certain things, that some investors would want to see (like alcohol sales at matches), or hooligan type fans like most the teams around the league have. They like that it is a family atmosphere where you don't hear bad mouthing from any of the 1.5k fans that show up at the weekend.

    All that being said, I would love for them to step into a permanent soccer specific home, even if it was just something similar to what Harrisburg has, which is just aluminum seating wrapped around 2 sides of the pitch with a nice area for the hardcore to hang out together on the 3rd side behind a goal. And with the Eagles being picky about who they allow to fund and donate to their team, you might think that it would be difficult to find a suitor, but there is BIG money around Charlotte and its in the pockets of very strong Christian believers.

    side note: Chic-Fil-A would be a cool sponsorship idea. I know that we ate there alot during the season, and the people eating/working there really did love us around.
     
  10. Mikey mouse

    Mikey mouse Member

    Jul 27, 1999
    Charleston, SC
    Club:
    Charleston
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    Thanks for your insight Dev. As a Battery fan its great to be able to travel up to watch a match that is somewhat close. But the stadium is kind of a disappointment. I don't mind the lack of alcohol, I wait two hours for a beer but I do find myself slipping with a few colorful metaphors from time to time!

    A new stadium would be great and I hope it becomes a reality
     
  11. tampasteve1

    tampasteve1 Member

    Tampa Bay Rowdies and Strikers
    Jul 21, 2009
    Tampa
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well, it looks like the Eagles will be playing at a new venue this year! Apparently there is a partnership with Queen's University and they will be playing at their soccer stadium. Can anyone confirm the amount of seats? On Google Earth it looks like there is a very small bleacher section and then grass seating. Hopefully they have added more bleachers since the Google sat went over. At least there are no gridiron lines.
    Press Release: Here
    Address: 229 Tyvola Rd. Charlotte, NC. 28210
     
  12. CShine

    CShine Member

    Dec 13, 2009
    Huntsville, AL
    Club:
    Rocket City United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    I found pics on the Queens U. site. Doesn't look like much seating, but hey, you can have a picnic on the slope.

    http://www.queensathletics.com/sports/2008/8/8/GEN_0808082046.aspx?tab=facilities

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  13. Mikey mouse

    Mikey mouse Member

    Jul 27, 1999
    Charleston, SC
    Club:
    Charleston
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Having been to their old stadium, this is a definite improvement
     
  14. tampasteve1

    tampasteve1 Member

    Tampa Bay Rowdies and Strikers
    Jul 21, 2009
    Tampa
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well that is good to hear. It is also reasonably close to transit, including the light rail.
     
  15. Macsen

    Macsen Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 5, 2007
    Orlando
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Uhh, I was there last year. The only difference between this one and that one is that there's no track.
     
  16. Mikey mouse

    Mikey mouse Member

    Jul 27, 1999
    Charleston, SC
    Club:
    Charleston
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Maybe in size but if you were at the HS stadium last year you know that has to be THE worse turf. Our players hated playing on it and the coach wouldn't play a couple players because he was worried about potential injuries. Th

    The new place has a much more modern turf field and it is much wider not to mention it doesnt have the football gridlines on it. Okay it does have lacrosse markings but they are much less obtrusive.

    Also the Eagles were force to reschedule games due to a large sink hole that formed under the turf at the end of last season.

    Add in actual locker rooms and a press box I would say this is definitely a step up.
     
  17. wellington

    wellington Member

    Jun 4, 1999
    Charlotte, NC
    Club:
    Charlotte
    Nat'l Team:
    England
  18. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    USL Media Guide lists Charlotte's stadium capacity as 600. Typo? That would be the smallest stadium for an actual pro club I can ever remember.
     
  19. Macsen

    Macsen Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 5, 2007
    Orlando
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You saw the pictures of the stadium. The stands themselves are tiny, but they also have a good deal of berm space.
     
  20. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You believe everything can be determined by satellite photos.

    Also, humans like actual seats. At some point, I don't care,it's 600 seats.
     
  21. ceezmad

    ceezmad Member+

    Mar 4, 2010
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Red Stars
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    and

    So arguably they want it have it done (at least the practice fields I guess by end of 2014).
     
  22. wellington

    wellington Member

    Jun 4, 1999
    Charlotte, NC
    Club:
    Charlotte
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    I still think the Eagles should consider heading back to Memorial Stadium short- and long-term. The MLL Hounds seemed to have a good support there last year (I bought 4 season tix but was never able to go to a game). Even if the stadium is built in Matthews, it is way out on the southeastern periphery of Charlotte -- it would be better to have the Eagles more centrally located. I even wouldn't mind seeing a NPSL team in Charlotte like Detroit City FC -- I think there is space for 2 teams... Queen City Rovers!
     
    TheLincolnKing repped this.
  23. TerminusFooty

    TerminusFooty Member+

    Feb 4, 2012
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    3-0 Atlanta, just in case anyone was wondering. :D
     
  24. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  25. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

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