North Carolina FC yesterday "unveiled a proposal" to build a $150M stadium and entertainment complex as part of an "effort to jump" from the NASL to MLS, according to a front-page piece by Paul Specht of the Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER. Under the plan, a 22,000-seat stadium would "anchor a mixed-use complex with a conference center, 750,000 square feet of office space, 100,000 square feet of retail space, 1,200 residential units and at least 300 hotel rooms." NCFC wants to "lease the land from the state, but it’s unclear whether government leaders are on board." TradeMark Properties Founder Billie Redmond said his goal with yesterday's announcement was to "start the dialogue, and to some degree to make it a public dialogue." NCFC Owner Steve Malik on Tuesday "sent an eight-page stadium proposal" to N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper and state legislative leaders. According to the plans, tax money "wouldn’t be used to build the stadium." However, Raleigh and Wake County could be "asked to help with infrastructure upgrades." Malik’s announcement was part of an event aimed at showing MLS officials why they should "include Raleigh in its latest expansion." There was a rally yesterday evening downtown (
Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 7/20). In Raleigh, Luke DeCock writes as dramatic as yesterday's unveiling of plans was, "actually getting the thing built could create even more drama." NCFC has hired a lobbyist and, working in partnership with Kane Realty Chair & CEO John Kane, can dangle $750M in development, "including two new office buildings for the state, but getting the fractious, contentious, capricious legislature to agree on anything is never easy" (
Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 7/20).
QUEEN CITY QUESTIONS: In Charlotte, Peralta & Harrison note critics "question whether Charlotte has a strong enough appetite for MLS to justify millions in taxpayer dollars for a new stadium." Other bidding markets have "partnered with the local professional team to generate fan interest in MLS," but the USL Charlotte Independence have "not been involved with the MLS4CLT bid." More than half a year after the submission, the public funding part of the deal "remains the most contentious, despite Charlotte's long history of using taxpayer dollars to fund pro sports facilities" (
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/20).
SIN CITY SOCCER: In Las Vegas, Jesse Granger notes the Las Vegas City Council "approved a lease agreement" yesterday "allowing a professional soccer team to play at Cashman Field" starting next March. If granted an expansion team by the USL, which is "anticipated in the coming weeks, Las Vegas would become the 33rd franchise in the league." Under terms of the lease, Las Vegas Pro Soccer LLC, headed by Brett Lashbrook, would "pay an up-front fee of $50,000, and $6,000 per game to play at Cashman Field, as well as covering all expenses to transform the field for soccer and back for baseball." Because the Triple-A PCL Las Vegas 51s would be "considered the primary tenant, the soccer club would schedule around their games." Lashbrook "helped grow the Orlando City USL soccer team into an MLS franchise before coming to Las Vegas" (
LAS VEGAS SUN, 7/20).
