Scoop: Charlotte to host the 2026 MLS All-Star Game
Why it matters: The weeklong celebration could draw thousands to Charlotte, filling seats at Bank of America Stadium — as well as hotels and restaurants across the city.
State of play: MLS "committed an All-Star Game to Charlotte" before Charlotte FC's inaugural home match, Garber told me in 2022.
The big picture: Much of the logistics for 2026 are TBD, including the opponent, plus who will make the All-Star team.
Past All-Star opponents have included the English team Arsenal and the Italian team Juventus. This year's All-Stars will face the best players from LIGA MX, Mexico's top league, on July 23 at Austin FC's Q2 Stadium.
Other events that typically accompany the All-Star match include a skills challenge, the MLS NEXT All-Star Game highlighting emerging players from teams' academies, community service and player appearances.
By the numbers: This year's All-Star game is estimated to generate at least $20 million in economic impact for Austin, Drew Hays, Austin Sports Commission executive director, said in a statement. Similar figures were projected for Columbus, which hosted the 2023 All-Star Game.
Between the lines: Q2 Stadium holds 20,738, significantly less than Bank of America Stadium, which holds more than 74,000 people.
Context: This will be the first time Charlotte has hosted an MLS All-Star Game. The city hosted the NBA All-Star Game in 2019.
Flashback: This won't be Charlotte's first soccer all-star match, though. The 1980 American Soccer League All-Star game took place at American Legion Memorial Stadium, drawing 8,623 fans, the Charlotte Observer archives show.
It was a taste of what was to come for the Carolina Lightnin', Charlotte's first pro soccer team, which won the 1981 ASL Championship in front of 20,163 fans at Memorial Stadium.
Fast forward more than 40 years and Charlotte FC is the city's top-tier team playing at Bank of America Stadium with one of the strongest attendance records in MLS. Charlotte FC is averaging 31,071 fans through its first 10 home matches this season.
The bottom line: Charlotte continues to make a case for itself as a destination for major events, recently hosting the PGA Championship, Savannah Bananas games and the FIFA Club World Cup.
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