Charlotte's push to get MLS expansion team faces hurdle

ORLANDO, FLORIDA — The Queen City is waiting to learn whether Charlotte will be one of the next cities to get an MLS expansion team.

[Where Panthers' push to bring MLS to Charlotte stands]

A source told Channel 9 that Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper met with officials at the MLS All-Star Game in Orlando Tuesday, which is at least the second time he's met with them this month.

Eyewitness News reporter DaShawn Brown was at the All-Star Game and said the MLS board held a closed-door meeting around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Initially, it was reported that the board may make an announcement about the league's expansion Wednesday, but Channel 9 learned the decision has been delayed.

Now, Tepper’s aggressive push to get a team is facing a critical hurdle.

“We are primarily in the business of having teams that play in soccer-specific stadiums,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. “His (Tepper’s) plan does not include one, so it’s not something that we're running into very quickly until we're very, very comfortable that could be a different path for us.”

In the video at the top of this web page, DaShawn Brown is reporting from Orlando and is following the push to bring soccer to the Queen City.

Cox Media Group