The city of Charlotte is "considering using tourism money to help demolish and rebuild" Memorial Stadium in the city's uptown to become a home for an MLS franchise, according to Steve Harrison of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. USL club Charlotte Independence President & Managing Partner Jim McPhilliamy has "had several meetings with the Mecklenburg Park and Recreation Department -- which owns the stadium -- the city and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority." A favored concept "would be to demolish the existing stadium," which was built in the '30s. After being rebuilt, the field "would be wider -- 75 yards across -- to accommodate an MLS team." It would "first be rebuilt with about 9,000 seats to handle events such as high school football." The stadium now has about 20,000 seats. It would be "expanded to as many as 20,000 or 25,000 seats if the city lands an MLS team." That second phase of construction "would likely include suites and other amenities that an MLS team would desire." Mecklenburg County Parks & Recreation Dir Jim Garges said that he is "open to the idea -- so long as the other public entities and private investors help fund the project." Garges said that tearing down and "rebuilding the stadium with a small 'lower bowl' of 9,000 seats" would cost $15-20M. The second phase "would cost millions more" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 6/27).
CALIFORNIA DREAMIN': In Sacramento, Dale Kasler noted the city "issued a formal notice declaring its intent to launch a new environmental impact report on the planned redevelopment of the 240-acre railyard" on the northern edge of downtown. Developers and city officials said that the new review is "particularly important to the city’s effort to land" an MLS expansion team. By incorporating plans for a 25,000-seat stadium into the environmental review, "even though MLS hasn’t yet committed to Sacramento, officials said Sacramento is demonstrating that the city will be ready for a team if and when the league gives its approval" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 6/27).
