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City council discusses using tax money to bring MLS team to Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte City Council members discussed using millions of tax dollars on Thursday to bring a Major League Soccer team to Charlotte.

[PAST: Bid submitted to bring Major League Soccer team to Charlotte]

The Charlotte Regional Visitors’ Authority thinks the construction of a new soccer stadium in Elizabeth could ultimately bring $300 million to the region.

In the long term, they believe an MLS team would bring $70 million to Charlotte every year.

The league's president, Mark Abbott, visited Charlotte Tuesday to see how we size up against the 11 other cities trying to land a new MLS team.

The plans to bring a franchise to Charlotte will be dead if city and county leaders don't help pay for it with your tax dollars.

Most city council members support bringing professional soccer to Charlotte, but the controversy is paying for it.

The city and county are being asked to put more than $43 million toward the project.

"At some point you have to look at this plan and say there are a lot of consequences to any action," Mayor Pro-Tem Vi Lyles said.

The former interim city manager said the city may only fund around $30 million.

If they don't reach an agreement by August, all the MLS plans will fall through.

The potential owner of the soccer team, Marcus Smith, already owns the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

He said if the city and the county come up with $86 million for the $175 million project he will pay for the rest.

MLS president Mark Abbott spent the day Wednesday in Raleigh which is also vying for a future team.

The city unveiled its plans, which include a $20,000 seat stadium in the downtown area.

“You can't help but be really overwhelmed by the plan that's being presented here,” Abbott said. “It's a stunning stadium in an incredible location approximate to downtown.

Raleigh's stadium would cost slightly-less than charlotte at $150 million.

MLS will award bids to two of the 12 cities vying for a team by the end of the year.