Charlotte FC MLS debut could bump city up MLB expansion list

Sure, it was a different professional sport making its debut in Charlotte, N.C., on Saturday night, but don’t be surprised if the turnout for the first Major League Soccer game in the Queen City didn’t raise the eyebrows of those keeping track of potential MLB expansion cities and what Charlotte could potentially bring to the sport in the future.

Here’s all you need to know about the crowd in Charlotte on Saturday night as Charlotte FC made its long-awaited MLS debut.

Could the massive crowd that showed up to cheer on Charlotte FC capture the attention of those keeping track of the ranking of MLB expansion cities?

Charlotte is one of three American cities that has an NFL and NBA team but does not have an MLB team (the others are Indianapolis and New Orleans). Charlotte is home to the Triple-A Knights, the affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, but the city has been mentioned by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred in the past as a potential site for MLB expansion.

Of course, it’s one MLS match, but the fan support for a new team in Charlotte certainly won’t be lost on any MLB team looking to relocate or when MLB expansion becomes a serious topic again. Charlotte is roughly 245 miles from Atlanta and just under 400 miles to Washington, D.C., so the market could carve out its own identity (as the NFL’s Panthers and NBA’s Hornets have already done).

When MLB expansion happens, Charlotte will certainly battle cities like Montreal and Portland, Ore., for a franchise. However, Saturday night’s soccer crowd (with, at the same time, Duke University and the University of North Carolina finishing up their battle on the hardwood in Mike Krzyzewski’s final home game) was a reminder that fans in the Carolinas are ready to embrace a multitude of sports, including those making a debut in the region.