Charlotte and Cincinnati: A Tale of Two Queen Cities by Ryan Bailey CHARLOTTE — From the moment of its inception, Charlotte MLS has had a de facto rival. “Screw that city!” proclaimed David Tepper on the podium at the team’s announcement, referring to Atlanta and its eminently successful soccer franchise. Soccer clubs are often defined by local rivalries, and Charlotte MLS has certainly laid down the gauntlet with its neighbor down I-85. Not all soccer rivalries, however, are based on proximity. Real Madrid and Barcelona, for example, play their home matches nearly 400 miles apart, and are bitter rivals due to their battle for supremacy in Spain. In the Premier League, distant foes Crystal Palace and Brighton contest the “Eagle-Seagull derby” due to a feud between their respective coaches in the 1970s. Charlotte MLS will also have a predetermined non-local rival when it starts play in 2021, as the city shares a nickname with Cincinnati: both are known as “The Queen City.” Thus, we have ourselves a very regal rivalry. .@fccincinnati announcing the Queen City Cup Challenge vs @USL foe Charlotte Independence. @WCPO